132 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



showing the four extremes measure 68.4 by 43.7, 61.5 by 49.7, 55.4 by 

 42.2 and 59.6 by 40 millimeters.] 



Young. — -According to Evans (1891), incubation is 25 or 26 days 

 in length. Both parents feed the young which, helpless at first, later 

 climb actively among the branches of the nesting tree and comport 

 themselves in all respects like their near relatives in this country. 

 A heronry resounds with the grunts, squeals, harsh screams, chatter- 

 ing, quackings, and barkings of the young birds eager to be fed. 



Plumages. — [xluthor's note: The sequence of molts and plumages, 

 from the downy young to the adult, which is fully described in 

 Witherby's (1920-24) Handbook, seems to correspond with the 

 sequence in our great blue heron. The juvenal plumage is worn for 

 about a year. The second winter plumage is much like the adult, 

 but the fully adult plumage is not complete until the young bird is 

 2 years old. Adults have a complete molt between July and Novem- 

 ber and a limited spring molt, especially of the crest feathers, between 

 February and April.] 



Food. — Fish of all sorts are the chief food of the European heron, 

 but worms, water insects, newts, frogs, mice, water voles, and young 

 birds are all welcomed. 



Behavior. — The European heron like our great blue heron is shy 

 and wary and well able to take care of itself, rarely allowing a human 

 being to approach within gunshot. It is a striking figure as it stands 

 motionless on its long legs in the marsh with its neck doubled up. 

 Its keen eyes are on the watch for game, and, if a fish swims within 

 striking distance, the heron's bill and long neck dart out with lightning 

 speed and the prey is transfixed. Again it walks stealthily toward 

 its prey, lifting and putting down its great feet with slow deliberation 

 and holding its body horizontal. It rarely misses its aim and is a 

 most successful fisherman. A. H. Patterson (1905) says: "I have 

 seen a heron so replete with fish that it could swallow no more, yet 

 continue to capture eels and let them go again, probably with regret, 

 or possibly for the fun of the exercise." 



When disturbed, the heron jumps into the air with quick, nervous 

 wing flaps and with outstretched neck, the picture of awkward clumsi- 

 ness, but it soon folds up its neck, extends its legs behind, and, with 

 slow measured beats of its huge wings, it flies away in majestic grace 

 and beauty. The cry of the adult, according to Hudson (1902), "is 

 powerful and harsh, and not unlike the harsh alarm cry of the pea- 

 cock." 



Game. — The heron was formerly considered the most desirable 

 quarry in falconry and on this account herons were protected by act 

 of Parliament. It was royal game and the heronries were sacred. 

 John Shaw (1635) gives the following quaint description of the sport: 

 "The heron or hernshaw is a large fowlc that livcth about waters * * * 



