354 



HERONS. 



alarm and to take wing, on which the rest forthwith follow its example. — 

 Lloyd's " Scandinavian Adventures" vol. ii. 



While congenial localities still existed, cranes regularly visited our own 

 island ; but cultivation and drainage ha\-e deprived them of their ancient 

 haunts, and they are now but rarely seen in this country, although they were 

 formerly esteemed valuable guests, and fines were imposed upon any who 

 should take away the eggs of a crane or of a bustard. Willoughby tells us 

 that " cranes come often to us in England, and in the fen counties of Lincoln- 

 shire and Cambridgeshire there are great flocks of them." No less than two 

 hundred and four were served up at a feast given by Archbishop Nevile in the 

 reign of Edward IV. 



The Balearic or Crowned Crane, remarkable for its golden crest and 

 bright red cheeks, is a native of Africa, whence it occasionally visits the islands 

 in the Mediterranean. Sometimes these birds are found in swampy situations, 

 where they live on fish, worms, and insects, but they generally prefer plains 

 and live upon vegetable substances. 



Sub-Family III. 

 THE HERONS PROPER. ARDEINzE. 



General Char.^cteristics. — Bill more or less lengthened, and generally acute, 

 with the gape extending beneath each eye ; the nostrils placed in tlie lateral groove, 

 with the opening usually longitudinal, and partly closed by a membrane ; the wings 

 usually long, and the first quills more or less graduated : the tail short and even ; 

 the tarsi long, slender, and covered with transverse scutellations or reticulated 

 scales ; the toes long and more or less slender, the outer toe usually united at the 

 base, sometimes both toes are united at the base for some distance. 



Birds of this sub-family inhabit most parts of the world, mi- 

 i^rating according to the change of seasons and the supply of 

 food. Their usual haunts are swamps, shallow rivers, or pools, 

 where they stand with their necks drawn down between their 

 shoulders, quietly watching the approach of a fish, which they 

 no sooner observe than they suddenly dart upon it with their 

 bill, and swallow it in an instant ; they also feed upon small 

 quadrupeds, frogs, and various kinds of insects. Some species 

 have been observed perched upon the backs of cattle, and feed- 

 ing upon the larvcX which infest their hide. The nest is usually 

 built upon the loftiest trees, or on elevated buildings, or among 

 the tall reeds on the borders of rivers and lakes : it is formed of 

 sticks lined with small twigs loosely put toj:ether so as to form 

 a large flat expanse. The female lays from four to five eggs. 



