HERONS 2 I 5 



morland, where a grove in which Herons built 

 having been cut down, the Herons endeavoured to 

 effect a settlement in a neighbouring rookery. The 

 rooks opposed this invasion, and desperate battles 

 ensued. Many of the rooks were killed, and several 

 of the herons also lost their lives ; but the latter 

 succeeded in holding some of the trees, and harmony 

 was at length restored. 



The weight of a full-grown young Heron is from 

 3 lbs. to 3^ lbs. ; of a fine old one, 5 lbs. to 5h lbs. 



PURPLE HERON. Ardea purpv.rea, Linnasus. PL 25, 

 figs. 3, 4. Length, 36 in, ; bill, 4'75 in. ; wing, 14-25 

 in. ; tarsus, 5-25 in. 



An occasional visitant to England, presumably 

 from Holland, where it breeds in small colonies, as 

 at the Naarden Mere and Horster Mere, near Amster- 

 dam, in dense masses of reeds. 



It is rarely seen in Scotland, where not more 

 than half-a-dozen have been met with at different 

 times ; one as far north as Caithness. 



In Ireland a single example is recorded to have 

 been shot at Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan, and is 

 preserved in the Science and Art Museum, Dublin. 



NIGHT HERON. Nycticorax griseus (Linnaeus). PI. 25, 

 figs. 8, 9. Length, 23 in. ; bill, 3 in. ; wing, 12 in. ; 

 tarsus, 3 in. 



There is good reason to believe that this bird 

 at one time nested annually in England in suit- 

 able localities. Although this is no longer the case. 



