1 1 4 BRITISH BIRDS 



is apparently without effect on the general health. It is 

 certainly not worth while attempting to cure the patient, 

 and any bird so affected had better be chloroformed at once. 



When wild this species lives on insects and seeds of 

 all kinds, and in confinement is very partial to crushed 

 hemp, from which it picks out the kernel, leaving the shell ; 

 but it will swallow, and appears to digest, the same seed whole. 



The song is a trifling warble, but is continued throughout 

 the year, and sounds pleasant enough when that of more 

 pretentious musicians is stilled. The bird is very easily 

 kept, and though somewhat sombre in appearance has a 

 neat figure, and is extremely peaceable in the aviary. 



THE HEN-HARRIER. See under Harriers. 



THE HERON. 



Of late years the Heron has become very scarce in 

 Britain. It stands at the head of a numerous series of 

 genera and species, and being a fine upstanding bird, of 

 graceful carriage and handsome plumage, offers too ready 

 a mark for the "sportsman" on murderous thoughts intent. 



The wings expand to the width of 5 feet. The general 

 colour is bluish-grey above and whiter underneath. The 

 head is distinguished by a crest of long black feathers 

 with a backward inclination ; and brown feathers, which are 

 long and narrow, form a kind of ruff or frill on the 

 breast ; the long legs and the feet are of a greenish 

 colour, and the tail and quills of the wings are blackish 

 slate, or almost black in old specimens. 



A Heron does not attain its full adult plumage until 

 it is two years old. The female resembles the male, but 

 she is of a rather duller colour. The young have neither 

 crest, nor frill, and are greyer than their parents. 



These birds, like the Rooks, nest in companies on the 

 tops of ihe highest trees they can find, and the nests 

 themselves, which are made of sticks, are of considerable 

 size and visible from a long distance. 



