143 



OKDEE HEEODIONES. 



FAMILY AEDEID.E.— GENUS AEDEA. 



HEEON. 



Akdea cixeeea, Linnaeus. 



Local Names — Crane, John Crane, Johnny, Johnny 

 Gant, Long-)ieck, Jammy Long-neck, Jammy, Frank. 



Relics of the man}' Heronries which have existed 

 within the last quarter of a century in different parts of 

 the count}', those at Scarisbrick near Southport, and at 

 Ashton near Lancaster, still flourish. The latter at 

 the present time [1885] contains twenty-live to thirty 

 nests, and the former from eight to ten, this having 

 been the invariable number for a great many years. At 

 Claughton-on-Brock, near Garstang, there used to be a 

 strong Heronry, but unfortunately some few years ago 

 the wood had to be cut down, and the birds got dispersed. 

 Mr. W. Fitzherbert Brockholes has good hopes, however, 

 that it is established anew in another wood, where some 

 young were safely hatched in the spring of 1884.* Mr. 

 Chamberlain Starkie informs me that between 1800 and 

 1810 the Duke of Hamilton, who then lived at Ashton 



* [Mr. Brockholes writes, in April 1892 : — " In spite of all the 

 protection I can give them, they do not increase in numbers, but 

 dwindle back to fonr or six pairs before each nesting-time." The 

 Eev. H. A. Macpherson tells me that there was a colony in Eond- 

 sea wood not long ago, and that another, in the Eiisland valley, 

 still flourishes. — Ed.] 



