142 HERON. 



avoided, it is certain blindness, and may actually cause death to 

 the unfortunate receiver. 



The food of the Heron consists principally of any kind of 

 fish, eels, frogs, water-rats, and the young of waterfowl, if it gets 

 the opportunity of seizing them. It frequents shallow water to 

 seek its food, for though it can swim if it pleases, it very seldom 

 does so. The Heron is especially fond of the eel, 



The eles for the Heroune. 



Chaucer. 



and is very successful in catching them. When the eel is large, 

 the Heron deliberately walks to the shore to beat it against the 

 ground before attempting to swallow it. 



Herons are gregarious at the breeding season, and in Hereford- 

 shire build on oaks, firs, beech, and elm trees. Like the Rooks, 

 they occupy the trees for the spring and summer ; then, only visit 

 them occasionally, and leave them altogether for the two or three 

 months of severe weather in winter. 



Within comparatively recent times there were several Heronries 

 in Herefordshire. At the beginning of this century, there was one 

 on the fine elms at the Moor, within a mile of the centre of the 

 city of Hereford. It dwindled down to a single pair of birds, 

 which built for the last time about the year 1810. There was also 

 a large Heronry on the elm trees at Newcourt, Lugwardine, within 

 three miles of the city; and some few remained there until 1853. 

 There was also another small Heronry, at the beginning of the 

 century, in the centre of the county, at the Marsh Farm, Eaton 

 Bishop. 



In early days, there was a considerable colony of Herons 

 occupying some tall oak trees on the north-west side of Brampton 

 Bryan Park, but this was broken up in the troublous times 



When civil dudgeon first grew high, 



in the reign of Charles I. The trees were felled, and the Herons 

 sought another home. 



