SUMMER OCCUPATIONS. 33 



the united exertions of all the members of any one 

 heronry in the world. 



The herons at Parham assemble early in Fe- 

 bruary, and then set about repairing their nests, 

 but the trees are never entirely deserted during 

 the winter months ; a few birds, probably some of 

 the more backward of the preceding season, roost- 

 ing among their boughs every night. They com- 

 mence laying early in March, and the greater 

 part of the young birds are hatched during the 

 early days of April. About the end of May they 

 may be seen to flap out of their nests to the adja- 

 cent boughs, and bask for hours in the warm sun- 

 shine ; but although now comparatively quiet 

 during the day, they become clamorous for food 

 as the evening approaches, and indeed for a long 

 time appear to be more difficult to wean, and less 

 able to shift for themselves, than most birds of 

 a similar age. They may be observed, as late as 

 August, still on the trees, screaming for food, and 

 occasionally fed by their parents, who forage for 

 them assiduously ; indeed, these exertions, so far 

 from being relaxed after the setting of the sun, 

 appear to be redoubled during the night ; for I 

 have frequently disturbed herons when riding 

 by moonlight among the low grounds near the 

 river, where I have seldom seen them during the 

 day, and several cottagers in the neighbourhood 



c 5 



