THE HERON 



{Ardea cinerea) 



Incessant persecution has well-nigh exterminated every 

 large bird from the inland woods and fields, but one still 

 survives — thanks probably to his incessant wariness and the 

 nature of the haunts he frequents. This is the Heron ; the 

 big gray watcher by the water-side that we sometimes disturb 

 from his piscatorial musings in the quiet corners of the rivers 

 and ponds. He is the solemn sentinel of the waters, and 

 the moment he rises into the air is the signal for all the other 

 birds in the vicinity to be on their guard. The Heron loves 

 to frequent slow running rivers, the shores of lakes, large fish- 

 ponds, and extensive marshes which are occasionally broken 

 by shallow rush-grown pools. He is also often seen on the 

 seashore and near the mouths of tidal rivers, where he walks 

 sedately about the mud and fishes in the shallow Avaters. 



Although every bit as regular in his habits as the Eook, 

 the Heron cannot be described as a gregarious bird. True, 

 he lives in colonies during the breeding season, but away 

 from the nests we seldom see more than three or four together, 

 and each seems to busy himself with his own affairs alone. 

 Like a true angler he usually prefers to fish by himself, and 

 always seems thoroughly engrossed in his occupation. The 

 Heron is a wanderer, and goes long distances to fish, returning 

 at dusk to his roosting-place. He is generally to be seen 

 standing a little distance from shore knee-deep in the water, 



