OF CHESHIRE AND NORTH WALES, 233 
“Ardea Anapha..... 1. The flesh is better than that of the 
Crane, but best when young; and eaten by the nobility in 
France. 2. The bill in powdef, being drunk, causeth sleep. 
3. The grease is anodyne, and eases pains of the gout, helps 
deafness, and clears the sight. It makes a good bait to catch 
fish with.”” In Cheshire, at the present day, many people still 
use the fat from the Heron’s body as an. attractive bait for fish. 
In the different counties the Heron is known to the peasantry 
by the following names :—Heronshaw (Cambs.), Harnces or 
Franks (Norfolk), Moll-herns or Frank-herons (Essex), Varn 
or more often Yarn (Cheshire.) I am inclined to think that all 
these local names, and some others not mentioned, are derived 
from the peculiar call-note of the bird. Créyr or Crehyr is, I 
believe, its correct Welsh name. There is, however, a local 
name which is not without interest. ‘“Crydd Glas” (Grey 
Shoemaker), was given to me by Miss Wynne Jonzs (Chester), 
and the Jate Mr. Wm. Parry (Colwyn Bay.) The reason Mr. 
PARRY gave was: “ That the bird lost its money for a pair of 
boots in the brook, and has been looking for it ever since.” 
I have written this verbatim as it was given me. Miss WYNNE 
Jones, of Chester, tells me that the bird derives its local Welsh 
name from the loud smacking noise that these birds make with 
their beaks at feeding time, which is produced by bringing 
together the two mandibles with terrific force—similar to that 
of the owl—and which closely resembles the “ Cobbler at work 
with his lapstone.” 
Before leaving our friend the Heron, I should just like to 
mention one other fact, which Mr. Srppatt has kindly fur- 
nished me with, with regard to a very singular way some of the 
Welsh people have of capturing the Heron alive. It was during 
hay harvest, a few years ago, while Mr. Stppatt and others 
were staying at Cwm Bychan, near Harlech, Merioneth, that 
the following curious circumstance took place :—Two boys were 
seen crawling upon their hands and knees, apparently stalking 
a Heron, and noticing that they had nothing wherewith to kill 
the bird, Mr. Sippatt (Chester) enquired of an elderly Welsh- 
man as to how the boys would take it. The answer he gave 
was: ‘‘ You see, sir, the bird was have a very small heart, and if 
the boys can get close up to it and frighten it, the bird was 
break its heart!” A few days afterwards a Heron was brought 
to Mr. Sippa tz said to have been thus taken. The bird was 
alive, and seemed perfectly healthy, but on freedom being 
offered it, the bird was unable to fly away; it was carefully 
examined, but neither bruise nor wound could be seen. It 
was, as the Welshman declared, ‘‘heart-broken.’? From the 
wary and crafty habits of the Heron one can scarcely credit 
this singular story, but I give it for what it is worth. 
** Ars longa, vita brevis.” 
