66 On the Ornithology of Wilts \_Ardeidce\. 



towards the tail to allow the feet to come to the centre of the 

 body ; (as has been most ably demonstrated by Mr. Waterton in 

 his Essay on the Heron :) and therefore it is not one whit more 

 irksome to the heron to perform its task of incubation after the 

 accustomed manner of other birds, than it is for the sparrow, the 

 finch, or the domestic fowl. Their habits are generally solitary, 

 except at the period of breeding, when they generally congregate 

 in large companies. 



"Common Heron." [Ardea Cinerea.) This is the only species 

 of the whole family which we can really designate an inhabitant 

 of Wiltshire ; those others which I have to mention being now 

 mere stragglers of very rare occurrence. But the Common Heron 

 is known to everybody, and we have all seen this majestic bird on 

 the wing to and from its roosting-places, or surprized it standing 

 motionless in shallow water watching for its prej'. It bears a bad 

 character with those who preserve fish, but Mr. Waterton has 

 pointed out that this is wholly undeserved, as the benefit it confers 

 by destroying rats, reptiles, and insects, more than compensate for 

 the few fish which it will devour when it can find them in the 

 shallows. At one time it was in high favour, and indeed protected 

 by law as the most noble game at which hawks could be fiown. 

 Its flesh was also greatly esteemed as a most dainty morsel : but 

 those palmy days when it stood high in the estimation of English 

 gentlemen are gone by, and it is despised alike by the epicure and 

 the sportsman, and persecuted by the gamekeeper and the fisherman. 

 The bird is so well known that I need not say more of its appear- 

 ance or its habits : but for those who value an interesting scene, 

 and are not well acquainted with the peculiar aspect of this graceful 

 bird, I would advise a visit in early spring to the heronry at 

 Bowood, where on an island in a retired part of the lake, and yet 

 within view of the mansion, the herons, protected from molestation 

 by their noble owner, annually breed, and may be seen on the 

 wing and in repose, and their barking note or croak listened to 

 with delight. 



"Squacco Heron." (Ardea Comata.) I have the unexcep- 

 tionable authority of Yarrell for the fact that this beautiful species 



