THE HERON. 



333 



hind its head, that it is about the size of a fowl, also that it has short 

 wings, and rests its four toes firmly on the ground, we shall then 

 have a pretty exact portrait of our subject. This Bird inhabits the 

 savannahs of Central America, frequenting the banks of rivers, where 





Fig. 131. The Bcatbill. 



' 



. 



it feeds on fish, molluscs, and sometimes crabs. It builds its nest in 

 the thick under-brush. 



The Herons (Ardca}, which form a genus of birds of the order 

 of Cultrirostres, have the bill long, pointed, opening widely, and 

 very strong ; their legs are in part bare of feathers ; toes long, and 

 furnished with long claws, not excepting the back toe, the whole 

 length of which rests upon the ground ; the neck is long and slender. 

 Further, the back of the head is adorned with a tuft of long feathers, 



