162 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



The common Heron is to be met with in winter throughout the 

 Eegency, though it is naturally more abundant in the well watered 

 districts of the north than in the drier region of the south. According 

 to Blanc the species is resident throughout the year in North Tunisia, 

 and breeds in the marshes near Bizerta and Mater. 



During the winter months the bird may often be seen on the 

 shores of the Lake of Tunis, and on the sea-coast near that town. 

 It is also to be observed in winter on the coasts of the south of the 

 Eegency, near the Tripoli frontier. 



Loche states that the Heron is abundant on all the Algerian lakes, 

 and that he had found it nesting on the shores of Lake Fetzara. 

 Dr. Koenig met with the species in tlie month of March on the Oued 

 Biskra in the Algerian Sahara, and Canon Tristram says : " it is 

 occasionally to be seen in the ditches and salt-marshes of the oases 

 in winter " {Ibis, 1860, p. 77). 



In Marocco the species is said to be abundant in winter, and 

 according to Favier, is both resident and migratory in the vicinity 

 of Tangier. 



The Heron frequents the banks of rivers and lakes, the seashore, 

 marshes and water-meadows. Except during the breeding-season, 

 it is solitary and unsociable in its habits, and is rarely to be found 

 otherwise than singly. If undisturbed, it often remains for hours 

 together in one spot, watching for its prey, standing on one leg, 

 with its head drawn in between its shoulders, and apparently asleep 

 or dozing. It is, however, far from being a dull bird, but on the 

 contrary, is very wide-awake and most wary. Its flight is slow and 

 measured, though capable of being maintained for a considerable 

 length of time, and often attaining a great altitude. In old times the 

 Heron used to be a favourite "quarry" with falconers, and the bird 

 was strictly preserved, and protected by law as roj-al game. 



The Heron's food is very varied, consisting of fish, eels, small 

 mammals, reptiles, frogs and shell-fish, and even of worms and 

 insects. It feeds both by night and day. 



Its note or cry, uttered by the bird when on the wing, is a harsh 

 loud " liraak " repeated once or twice, but as a rule, the bird is 

 silent. 



The Heron's nesting habits in North-west Africa seem to differ 

 somewhat from those of its kind in Europe, and more particularly 

 the north of Europe, where these ])irds breed in largo colonies, or 



