CROWS AND ROOKS. 211 



of these occasions about fifty were observed, formed in 

 a ring round one individual, whose appearance bespoke 

 great alarm. One of the party then seemed to address 

 the conclave, by clapping its wings for about five mi- 

 nutes. It was followed by a second, a third, and a 

 fourth, in regular succession, each, like the first, clap- 

 ping its wings in the same odd and significant manner. 

 At last they all joined in chorus, and then with one ac- 

 cord fell upon the poor culprit in the middle, and 

 despatched him in a few seconds ; after which they rose 

 up in a body, and one, according to their custom, taking 

 the lead, flew off to the southward. This curious story 

 is in some degree corroborated by the opinion of old 

 writers, one of whom, in describing the migrations of 

 these birds in the eastern countries, says, that when 

 they go away, the Stork that comes last to the place of 

 rendezvous is killed on the spot by the others*. 



At Dunham, near Altrincham, in Cheshire, the seat of 

 the Earl of Stamford, there is a heronry, which has 

 existed for many years. It happened, about the latter 

 end of March, or beginning of April, a few years ago, 

 that a gentleman, riding along the turnpike-road, saw, 

 in a small field, about a mile from the trees where the 

 birds breed, about thirty-five or forty standing on the 

 ground, and occasionally moving slowly in various direc- 

 tions. At first he was uncertain what birds they were, 

 as their heads were thrown back, and they appeared 

 little raised from the ground ; but, on approaching the 

 spot, he was soon satisfied that they were Herons. His 

 presence, however, had no other effect (though in gene- 

 ral they are remarkably shy and cautious) than inducing 

 those nearest the hedge, where he had stationed himself 

 to watch their motions, to walk leisurely to a more dis- 

 tant part of the field. He remained for some time a 

 spectator of their singular assemblage, which impressed 

 him with the opinion that it was a deliberate council ; 

 and we agree with him that in this case, at least, though 

 * BELLONIUS. 



P2 



