MIGRATION of THE HERON. 



335 



cares of incubation ; after the eggs are hatched, the males also assist 

 in providing for the young. 



When the young Herons are able to fly, they leave the nest and 

 cease to have their wants provided for by their parents. 



Fig 132. Common Heron and Egret. 



About the beginning of August the time for migration has arrived, 

 the colony, possibly then amounting to 500 or 600 individuals, 

 prepare themselves to quit the heronry. The following year they 

 return, and their arrival, like their departure, takes place with great 

 regularity of date. It is remarked that the number of couples is 

 always nearly the same as that of the nests, so that each pair readily 

 find a resting-place ; the new generation must therefore leave their 

 progenitors to found a fresh colony. 



