THE HOME-LIFE OF THE 

 COMMON HERON. 



Partly on account of its excessive wariness, and partly 

 owing to its checkered history in the past, the Heron has 

 always been a bird of much interest. In former times it 

 enjoyed an especial measure of protection, being regarded 

 as royal game, but now, when the breechloader has 

 ousted the falcon, and the splendid art of flyfishing 

 has justly reached such popularity, the poor old Heron 

 finds himself, like the ministers of old, gone out of favour, 

 and, like them, with his neck sorely in danger. 



His case is somewhat peculiar, for in years gone by 

 he was protected in order to be destroyed, but though 

 he has remained the same Heron through the centuries, 

 the pleasures of fickle man have changed, and now 

 almost every man's hand is raised against him, at all 

 events the angling fraternity, and they in velveteens 

 are clamouring loudly for his blood, and now in this 

 twentieth century it is necessary to protect him not for, 

 but JTom destruction. 



It is fortunate indeed that the heronries now left to 

 us are, for the most part, found on large and ancient 

 estates, where, if for no other reason, they are appreciated 

 owing to the traditions and associations attaching to 

 them. 



For years we had been waiting to make the closer 

 acquaintance of this wary bird, but it was not until 

 March 17th, 1906, that we began operations. 



As the date indicates, the Heron is a very early breeder, 

 and at this time the nest we had selected already had 

 four eggs (Plate 21), but, as subsequently appeared, the 

 bird was still laying, for a fifth egg was added two days later. 



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