The Heron and BHeronries of Cheshire 
and Porth Hales, 
BY R. NEWSTEAD, F.E:S. 
(CURATOR OF THE GROSVENOR MUSEUM, CHESTER.) 
Read January 31st, 1890, and revised to date of publication. 
O much has been written from time to time on Herons and 
Heronries, by Archzologists and Naturalists, that I have 
only been able to make a few original observations. 
So far as the Heron is concerned, only such notes as are 
likely to prove of interest have been appended, and these are 
either from my own observations or gained from trustworthy 
sources, duly acknowledged. The historical facts are arranged 
as near as possible in chronological order; many of them being 
very quaint and interesting, and as I know of no publication 
containing such 7” extenso, I have ventured to give them here. 
LOcALITY. 
I first commenced to gather information respecting the 
Cheshire Heronries in 1886, and shortly after extended the 
district by taking in North Wales; but in both districts I have 
somewhat exceeded the Society’s boundaries. 
THE HERONRIES. 
_ These are the breeding places of the Heron; and any 
naturalist who has not visited the homes of this bird, has—if he 
does not mind the somewhat strong smell—a treat in store. 
In the Zoologist, 1872-3, pp. 3261, 3369, Mr. J. E. HARTING 
published a list for all the then-known Heronries in the United 
Kingdom, numbering in all 300; 171 for England and Wales, 
72 for Scotland, and 57 for Ireland. Six are given for Cheshire, 
one for Flintshire, and one at Penarth. 
SAUNDERS Says (Brit. Birds, p. 355): ‘‘In England the 
number of its colonies has suffered no diminution, though 
many of them are seriously reduced in size as compared with 
former times.” 
I am sorry, however, to say that of the Cheshire Heronries 
only two are now existing, but of the nineteen reputed Heronries 
in North Wales, twelve are still in existence, several of which 
