THE COMMON HERON. 67 



mixed with white and brown, and marked with long 

 spots. The upper mandible of the beak is blackish 

 brown with yellow spots, the lower mandible is yellow, 

 the iris is yellow, and greenish yellow surrounds the 

 eyes. The feet are ash-gray, but yellow towards the 

 feathers. There is a perfectly white variety of this 

 bird, which is very rare, but easily distinguishable 

 from the great white heron by the nakedness of 

 the legs. 



In former times the heron was protected by law, as 

 it was much sought after in hawking. In those days 

 it was very abundant, and is still not rare ; its striking 

 appearance makes it easily recognisable by the most 

 casual observer of bird-life. Its general outline at 

 some little distance makes it appear more grand and 

 formidable than it really is. It stands higher than 

 the golden eagle, though the expanse of its wings is 

 much less. Its length is about 40 inches, and its 

 breadth about 5^ feet. It has a peculiar way of 

 doubling up its long neck when flying and throwing 

 back its feet, which makes it appear very long, and 

 distinguishes it when flying from the goose, for which, 

 if it flew with the neck stretched out, it might be mis- 

 taken. It flies high, though less so than the birds of 

 prey. Seen nearly vertically above the observer, its 

 flight seems rather graceful, but the reverse is the case 

 if the beholder looks down on the bird from an eleva- 

 tion. Were we to estimate its weight in proportion to 

 cubic size, in order to give to the heron the steady and 

 powerful flight of a raptorial bird of the same dimen- 

 sions, it ought to weigh much heavier than it does, but 

 its weight is only about three pounds. It is, indeed, the 

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