BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 83 



basal tubercle black. Legs black. Length 60 in. 

 Female smaller, and tubercle less developed. Young 

 (cygnet), greyish brown above, paler below. Bill and 

 legs lead-coloured. 



Language. Loud and like a trumpet. 



Habits. Flight strong and powerful with the long 

 neck outstretched. It frequents shallow waters and 

 feeds by thrusting its long neck down to the bottom 

 where the food is found. When angry half raises its 

 wings and hisses. A powerful swimmer like all Swans. 

 On land very awkward and ungainly. 



Food. Aquatic plants and insects and grain. 



Nest. April or May. One brood. 



Site. On a small island or secluded part of a river or 

 lake bank. 



Materials. Reeds and water-plants, piled together 

 into a bulky mass. 



Eggs. Three to six. Dull greenish white. 



COMMON HERON (Ardea cinerea). 



Rather local, but usually met with in the vicinity of 

 water. 



Plumage. Crest white, except two long black plumes ; 

 upper parts slaty grey. Forehead, cheeks, neck, under 

 parts, and under tail -co verts white. Neck streaked 

 with bluish grey, from which depend long white feathers. 

 Bill and legs long and yellow. Length 36 in. Female 

 smaller, rather duller, and plumes shorter. Young : 

 first covered with greyish brown down above, and white 

 below ; later dusky brown above, striped on flanks and 

 breast with blackish. 



Language. A hoarse croaking " honk "or " kronk." 

 Rather silent generally. 



Habits. Sociable, always breeding in heronries. It 

 loves to stand with the water rippling round its lanky 

 legs, quite motionless, on the look-out for fish, which 



