THE HERON. 333 
hind its head, that it is about the size of a fow!, also that it has short 
wings, and rests its four toes firmly on the ground, we shall then 
have a pretty exact portrait of our subject. This Bird inhabits the 
savannahs of Central America, frequenting the banks of rivers, where 
Fig. 131.— The Bcatbill 
it feeds on fish, molluscs, and sometimes crabs. It builds its nest in 
the thick under-brush. i 3 
The Herons (Ardea), which form a genus of birds of the order 
of Cultrirostres, have the biil long, pointed, opening widely, and 
very strong ; their legs are in part bare of feathers; toés long, and 
_ furnished with long claws, not excepting the back toe, the whole 
length of which rests upon the ground; the neck is long and slender. 
Further, the back of the head is adorned with a tuft of long feathers, 
