674 THE HERON. 



delicate black barbules. The skin of the cheek is bare, and the greater part of it is 

 bright scarlet, the upper part being white, and running into a small wattle on tlie throat. 

 The general colour of the plumage is slaty grey, and the primaries and quill-feathers of 

 the tail are black, the long secondaries are brown and the wing-coverts snowy white. The 

 height of tliis species is about four feet. 



The three birds represented on the accompanying illustration afford examples of the 

 Herons. Two of them are natives of England, though yearly becoming more scarce 

 owing to the rapid spread of cultivation, and the third is a European species, but not as 

 yet known on our British Islands. 



The Egret is a native of several parts of America, having its principal residence in the 

 southern portions of that continent, and visiting the more northern districts during several 

 months of the year, arriving generally about February or ]\Iarch. As it finds its food 

 among inundated and swampy grounds, it is generally seen haimting the rice-fields, the 

 marshy river-shores, and similar localities, and seldom if ever visits the high inclosed 

 regions. The food of the Egret consists of the smaller mammalia, little fish, frogs, lizards, 

 snakes, and insects. It is a handsome and elegant bird, and is conspicuous among 

 the low marshy grounds which it frequents, on account of its large size and snowy 

 plumage. 



The beaiitiful loose feathers of the train, which fall from the shoulders over the back, 

 are not fully developed until the third year, and are then greatly in reqiiest for feather 

 brushes, either to dust delicate furniture or to flap away the flies. The old birds are, 

 however, so veiy wary that they cannot be api^roached without great difficulty, and these 

 brushes are therefore sold at a high price. The train-feathers are also employed in the 

 decoration of liead-dresses. The Egret breeds chiefly in extensive cedar-swamps, placing 

 its nest on the branches of trees, and laying three or four large pale blue eggs. The young 

 are usually hatched about the end of June ; and when they are strong enough to walk 

 about, they associate in little flocks of twenty or thirty in number. 



The colour of the Egret is pure snowy wliite, with the exception of the train, which 

 has a creamy yellow tinge. The feathers of the train are so long that when they are 

 fully developed they hang over the tail and quite conceal it. The long sharp biU is 

 nearly six inches in length, and its colour is rich golden orange, darkening into black at 

 the tip. The long legs are black and the eye is rather pale orange. In total length the 

 adult bird is about four feet, if the measurement be taken to the end of the train. Both 

 sexes have the same plumage. 



The well-known Heeon was onoe one of our commonest English birds, but on account 

 of the draining of swamps and their conversion into fertilized and habitable ground, is 

 now seldom to be se«u except in certain localities which still retain the conditions that 

 render them so acceptable to this bird. There arc some places where Herons are yet 

 plentiful, especially those localities where the owner of the land has established or pro- 

 tected the nests, or where a wide expanse of wild uncultivated ground affords them a 

 retreat. Only a few days ago I came suddenly on three of these beautiful birds fishing 

 quietly in the Avon, and permitting my approach within a few yards before they spread 

 their wide wings for flight. 



The food of the Heron consists mostly of fish and reptiles, but it will eat small 

 mammalia, such as mice, or even water-rats. In the stomach of one of these birds were 

 found seven small trout, a mouse, and a thrush. Eels also are a favourite food of the 

 Heron, but on account of their lithe bodies and active wrigglings are not so easy to 

 despatch as ordinary fish, and are accordingly taken on shore and banged against the 

 ground until disabled. Dr. Neill, quoted by Yarrell, mentions a curious instance of the 

 Heron feeding on young water-liens. " A large old willow-tree had fallen down into the 

 pond, and at the extremity, which is partly sunk in the sludge and continues to vegetate, 

 water-hens breed. Tlie old cock Heron swims out to the nest and takes the young if he 

 can. He has to swim ten or twelve feet, where the water is between two and three feet 

 djep. His motion through the water is slow, but his carriage stately. I have seen him 



