TWO HERONS 



this age of death and destruction 

 to all living creatures, which, be- 

 cause of their size or edible quali- 

 ties, the so - called sportsman is 

 proud to exhibit as evidence of his 

 skill afield, it is remarkable that 

 there should exist within twenty 

 odd miles of New York's City Hall 

 a colony of Herons which would do credit to the 

 most remote swamp of Florida. 



Three factors have combined to render this rook- 

 ery possible : first, its isolation ; second, the habits 

 of its occupants ; and third, the protection which is 

 afforded it by the owner of the land on which it is 

 situated. Of these, the first is by far the most im- 

 portant, and I may be pardoned, therefore, if I do 

 not betray the birds' secret ; for, much as I desire to 

 encourage American industries, I must on this occa- 

 sion withhold information of undoubted value to 

 the feather trade. 



The birds' habits contribute toward their preser- 

 vation, because they are largely nocturnal, " Night " 

 being the specific name applied by the text-books to 

 this particular kind of Heron ; but to those who 

 know him in nature, he is generally spoken of as 

 " Quawk," this being an excellent rendering of his 

 common call. 

 76 



