46 A BOOK OF BIRDS 



protected on account of the sport it afforded in Falconry. To-day- 

 it is subjected to a ruthless persecution wherever trout streams abound 

 on account of the heavy toll it is supposed to levy on these sacred 

 fish ; so that the wonderful sight of a *' heronry," as a nesting-colony 

 of these birds is called, is becoming more and more rare. But the 

 herons, even in trout streams, are by no means such robbers as they 

 are supposed to be by those who shoot them down, and trap them 

 by all manner of barbarous devices. For these birds subsist largely 

 on water-voles, frogs, and eels. 



Their nests, constructed of sticks, are placed in the tops of high 

 trees, though when these are wanting they will build upon the ground. 



The Common Heron enjoys a wide range, occurring over the 

 greater part of Europe and Asia below lat. 60° N., and most parts of 

 Africa and Madagascar. Eastwards it extends to the Malay Islands 

 and Australia. 



In South America there occurs a bird which in general appearance 

 closely resembles the Common Heron. This is the Blue, or Cocoi, 

 Heron. But a much more remarkable species of Heron occurs in 

 North America. This is the Little Blue Heron. Though, as its name 

 implies, a much smaller bird than the Common Heron, it is peculiar 

 on account of the fact that it is met with under two distinct forms, 

 one blue and one white, both forms being not infrequently found in 

 the same nest. 



The small birds known as " Night Herons " are near allies of the 

 Common Heron, and are met with in Europe and America. 



Among the Heron tribe are certain species which possess, in a 

 remarkable degree, the '' fatal gift of beauty." These are the " Egrets." 

 The chiefest among these are the Great White Egret (Plate IV. fig. 5) 

 and the American Egret. The former occurs in Southern Europe, 

 east to Central Asia and south to Africa, the Indian Peninsular and 

 the Burmese countries, and is the largest of the Egrets. The American 

 species is a smaller bird, and burdened by the scientists with the 

 formidable Latin name Lecophoyx candidissima. A native of the 

 temperate and tropical regions of America, from the Northern United 

 States to Chili, this bird, like its white relatives in other parts of the 

 world, has for many years been made the subject of the most atrocious 

 persecution. And this for the sake of the wonderfully beautiful 



