( 3 01 ) 



fea-fowls commonly breed ; and where in great 

 bodies they are charaSteriftic. 



Among the folltary birds, which frequent 

 the eftuaries of rivers, the hern, and the 

 cormorant are of too much confequence to be 

 omitted. 



The form, in which the hern contracts his 

 long neck in flying his out-ftretched legs - 

 the folemn flapping of his wings his eafy 

 deliberation in taking the ground the blueifh 

 tint of his plumes, foftening into white and 

 his patient, and attentive pofture, as he ftands 

 fiihing on the fhore are all, circumftances 

 as far as they go, pi&urefque. His hoarfe note 

 too, at paufing intervals, as he paries through 

 the air, tho harfh and difcordant when un- 

 aided by its proper accompaniments, like 

 other notes of the fame kind, when the fcenes 

 of nature act in concert with it, hath it's 



full energy, and effect. 1 call the hern a 



folitary bird, becaufe his common habits, and 

 manner of feeking his food, are folitary: we 

 feldom fee more than two in company; tho, 

 like the rook, he breeds in large focieties. 



Nor 



