46 THE COMMON HERON. 



The Heron frequents the Tweed, Whitadder, Blackadder, 

 Leader, Eye, Dye, Eden, and other streams in the county, 

 where it may be sometimes observed standing motionless in 

 the water watching for its prey. As, however, it is very wary, 

 it is more often noticed rising from the river with its slow, 

 steady flight, and its long legs stretched out beyond its tail. 

 It likewise visits the rocky sea-coasts of the county, includ- 

 ing the neighbourhood of Oldcambus, at all seasons of the 

 year, but chiefly from March to August, in search of food. 

 " Here," writes Mr. Hardy, " the birds sleep when the tide 

 does not suit for fishing, one by one, or by pairs, in the 

 chinks and hollows of the great rocks at Rough-head and 

 Swallow Craig. When they fly, their large grey wings are 

 very conspicuous on the black winter shores. If the tide is 

 going out, they each select their own rock, and are elegant 

 and watchful, their shadows being reflected in the receding 

 waters. They remain still as long as a person walks on the 

 top of the sea banks, but fly off if a stand be made." 1 The 

 scream of a Heron, which it often utters when rising from 

 a river side or marsh, never fails to alarm all the wild-fowl 

 within hearing : " the Herrons gaif an vyild skreech as the 

 Kijl had bene in fyir, 2 quhilk gart the quhaipis 3 for fleyitnes 4 

 fle far fra hame." 5 



When Herons are passing singly or in small numbers 

 high overhead in the air on a prolonged journey, their cry 

 often attracts attention, and they may then be observed in 

 the full grandeur of their flight. Rooks sometimes mob 

 them on these occasions, and fly after them with much 

 persistence. 



1 Mr. Hardy's MS. Notes, dated the 13th of February 1872. 



2 "To cry as if the Kill was on fire" a common phrase to express making a 

 great noise. Jamieson, Scot. Diet. 



3 Curlews. 



4 Fear. 



* The Complaynt of Scotland, 1560, 



