86 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



fish (Zool. 1876. p. 4823). Upon the North coast 

 of the County it is less frequentl}^ observed, but in 

 November 1881 several Gannets were reported as 

 seen flying off Hartland Point during the whole 

 month (Migration Report, 1881. p. 68), and their 

 presence in limited numbers is a common event. 



Order HERODIONES. 



Family Ardeid^. 

 HERON.— /In/ea cinerea, Linn. 



A WELL known resident, constantly to be seen on 

 our rivers and estuaries. Several fine Heronries 

 exist in the county. At Powderham Park, the seat 

 of the Earl of Devon, the Herons nest in some 

 ancient oak trees close to the castle. Formerly a 

 Heronry existed in Shute Park, near Axminster, 

 but some forty years ago the birds migrated to 

 fresh quarters among the woods of Stedcombe near 

 Axmouth. A few Herons breed at Sharpham on the 

 Dart. Mr. Mitchell knows the Heronry at 

 Warleigh, and another at Fremington, near 

 Barnstaple. The Rev. G. C. Green reports another 

 as existing in Little Orcheton Wood, at the mouth 

 of the Erme ; Dr. Elliot sends me word of a 

 Heronry in Halwell Wood on the Kingsbridge 

 estuary; Mr. Parfitt records another on Dartmoor 

 near Princetown. The Rev. Prebendary Bassett 



