THE HERON. 307 



shells thrown up by the sea, so little above high- water mark 

 that in high spring-tides they are frequently swept away. 

 When taken young, they may be easily tamed, and we have 

 been surprised that they are not more frequently introduced 

 into our pleasure-grounds. We remember seeing very con- 

 siderable numbers of them, some years ago, on the lawn of the 

 Pavilion at Brighton, collected by order of his late Majesty 

 George the Fourth, where they were running about with the 

 tameness and familiarity of poultry. Nothing could be more 

 ornamental than their smart pieballed glossy coats, in contrast 

 with their long, bright, orange beaks and legs. 



TABLE XXIII. (See page 20.) 



ORDER 5. WADERS. TRIBE 2. CULTIROSTRES (Cutting Beaks] , so called 

 from the Latin words cutter, a knife, and rostrum, a beak. 



This tribe contains the Herons, Cranes, &c., known by their 

 thick, long, and strong cutting bills. The first genus consists 

 of the Heron, properly so called, which differs from the others 

 chiefly in the middle toe being toothed or pectinated, and in 

 having their beaks cleft under the eyes. In other respects, 

 they in so many points resemble the second and third genus 

 namely, Storks and Cranes, that they may be all looked upon 

 as forming one family. With the Heron, however, we are 

 most familiar, as he 

 alone stays with us 

 all the year round ; 

 and he may be often 

 seen standing like a gerrated claw of the Heron 



grey statue, motion- 

 less on one leg, up to his knees in water, in some retired spot, 

 Avatching for fish, the very picture of patience. Impatient 

 would he nevertheless be, if long unsuccessful, for he has a 

 most prodigious appetite, destroying an inconceivable number 

 of fish, which are digested almost as soon as swallowed. The 

 powers of its stomach are indeed very great, surpassing those 

 of most other birds ; Owls, Crows, and Kingfishers, we know 



