IIEROX HAWKING . 297 



her nest in very loftie trees, and shewetb, as it were, a 

 natural hatred against the gossehawk, and other kind of 

 hawks ; and so likewise doth the hawk seek her destruc- 

 tion continually. When they fight above in the air, 

 they labour both especially for this one thing, that the 

 one might ascend and be above the other. Now, if the 

 hawke get the upper place, he overthroweth and van- 

 quisheth the heron with a marvellous earnest flight ; 

 but if heron getteth above the hawk, then with his 

 dung he defileth the hawk, and so destroyeth him : 

 for his dung is a poison for the hawk, rotting and putri- 

 fying his feathers." Herons are taken for hawking 

 purposes by placing around their nests strong nooses, so 

 arranged that when they come to visit their eggs their 

 legs may become entangled therewith. About sunset, 

 a man placing himself to leeward of the nest in close 

 concealment, having the line or lines to which the 

 noose or nooses are attached, by drawing them tight 

 can usually succeed in taking one. It is necessary, 

 however, to preserve the life of the heron, not only that 

 food should be forced down its throat, but also from 

 disgorging it should be prevented by placing a bandage 

 round the neck sufficiently tight to prevent vomiting, 

 but not so much so as to interfere with respiration. 

 Without this precaution, such is the sulkiuess of this 

 bird, that it will infallibly starve itself. Nevertheless, 

 sucli also is the power which skill and perseverance have 

 in taming the most intractable animals, that even the 

 heron has been brought to assume all the fondness of a 

 pet; in proof of which Sir John Sebright offers the 

 following fact, which occurred within his own know- 

 ledge : " A full-grown heron was taken in a decoy, and 

 brought to J. D. Downes, Esq., at old Grunton Hall. 



VOL. II. X 



