OF CHESHIRE AND NORTH WALES. 235 
BALDERTON, NEAR CHESTER. 
In the year 1888, for the first time, a pair of Herons built 
and reared their young in the wood belonging to His GRACE 
THE DuKE OF WESTMINSTER. Unfortunately they have now 
abandoned the spot (1893.) 
BURTON 
(The Seat of Captain Congreve.) 
This Heronry was established in 1857, and consisted of 
fifteen to twenty nests, which were built in some fir trees near 
the Marsh; but in the year 1880 part of the Heronry was 
blown down during a heavy gale, and the birds have not built 
there since. 
Hooton 
(The Seat of Sir T. M. Stanley.) 
This Heronry, I believe, was the oldest in Cheshire; I can 
get no information as to the commencement of it, although I 
have questioned some very old people who have lived there all 
their lives. These people still believe that the sitting bird 
puts its long legs through holes in the nest provided for that 
purpose. I need scarcely tell you that the Heron, when sitting, 
does nothing of the kind, as it can stow away its long legs under 
its body as well as a “‘Tom-tit.”” The Heronry consisted of 
about twenty nests, and, as far as I can make out, the number 
remained about the same for many years. Two years ago 
(1888), this Heronry was in a. flourishing condition, but, un- 
fortunately for the birds, the Manchester Ship Canal has gone 
quite through it. All the trees are cut down, and the necessary 
railroads, &c., have been made through what was one of the 
wildest pieces of woodland scenein Cheshire. I well remember 
paying a visit in 1887, and had it not been for a guide I must 
have lost my way, the bushwood being so dense it had 
overgrown the footways. 
OvuLToN Park 
(The Seat of Sir Philip Grey Egerton.) 
The only information I have been able to gather respecting 
this Heronry is contained in Ormerod’s Cheshire, and I 
think I cannot do better than give the writer’s own words: 
‘*A Heronry formerly existed here on an island in the pool, 
but was deserted about twenty years ago....... the 
approach to the house is of singular beauty, overshadowed by 
stately trees, amongst which the beech, for their size and 
luxuriance, are particularly conspicuous. The magnificent 
trees which now adorn the park and pleasure grounds, were, 
with the exception of the oaks and a few others, planted about 
120 years ago, under the superintendence of the celebrated 
landscape gardener William Eames, and his pupil Webb.” 
H 
