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THE


Avicultubal Magazine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF

THE AVICULTURAL SOCIETY

FOR THE STUDY OF

FOREIGN & BRITISH BIRDS

IN FREEDOM & CAPTIVITY.



Third Series. —Yol. X.—No. 5 .—All rights reserved. MARCH, 1919.



HERONS.


By Frank Finn, B.A., F.Z.S.


I should advise anyone who keeps any sort of Heron at large

to clip more than a few feathers of its wing if they want to stop its

flying. At first, at any rate, it would he advisable to cut nearly all the

secondaries of one wing as well as the primaries, though one might

leave the inner three—the so-called tertiaries—for appearances’ sake.

I found that on trying to keep a common Heron in a garden, many

years ago, with only the primaries of one wing cut, it soon Hew over

the wall, using a low tree as a take-off.


Moreover, a magnificent pair of common Herons" they had at

Kew some years ago, pinioned, actually tried to nest on the fountain

base in the middle of the pond, to which they flew regularly, though

in a most awkward manner, looking as if they would drop into the

w'ater at every stroke. They ultimately disappeared, having, I believe,

flown away.


* These birds in the breeding season had the base of the beak, facial skin, and

legs bright brick-red, contrasting beautifully with the grey plumage. They

were, I believe, about ten years old. Does this mean that the common Heron

has to be very mature before it gets this final touch to its appearance ? I

have seen nothing about it in bird books.



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