THE HERON 175 



and these are the ones which have been added to each year. 

 Before the young are hatched the nests are broad and shallow, 

 with a small cavity in the centre, in which the eggs are laid ; 

 but very soon after the young Herons arrive upon the scene 

 the nests are trodden out of all shape, and more resemble 

 huge masses of sticks than the homes of birds. They are 

 almost entirely made of sticks, the large ones forming the 

 outer framework, and the finer twigs being used as a lining, 

 which in some cases is further increased by masses of turf 

 and moss. The nests soon get regularly whitewashed with 

 the droppings of the birds, and the ground below the trees, 

 especially late on in the season, when the young birds are 

 nearly able to fly, is white from the same cause, whilst the 

 smell from decaying fish and dead nestlings is often very 

 offensive. Under the trees are to be seen quantities of 

 broken egg-shells and sticks, which have either been dropped 

 by the birds or been blown from the nests by the spring 

 gales. 



The eggs of the Heron are from three to five in number, 

 a beautiful greenish-blue in colour, but without any gloss. 

 Long before the ungainly-looking nestlings are able to fly, 

 they clamber out of the nest and explore the neighbouring 

 branches, often visiting the adjoining trees, where they are 

 fed by their parents. I have often seen young Herons 

 climbing about the trees using their beak as well as their feet 

 to assist them ; and when I have been up the trees examining 

 the nests I have noticed how quickly the nestlings hurry out 

 of the way on to the slender branches where pursuit is im- 

 possible. The Heron only rears one brood in the season. 

 The young are voracious feeders, and when the heronry is 

 some distance from the water the old birds' energies are 

 taxed to the utmost. Early and late, with as much regularity 

 as Eooks, they may be seen flying backwards and forwards 

 feeding their ever-hungry young. 



