188 THE HERON. 
the feathers, by coming in contact with the outer 
materials of which the nest is formed, would be 
forced into a direction quite opposite to that which 
they have received from the hand of nature. Hence 
we may safely conclude that neither the herons, nor 
any other birds of the creation, ever perform their 
incubation with their legs on the outside of the 
nest. 
In the day-time this bird seldom exhibits any very 
extraordinary activity. Although it will fly from 
place to place at intervals, still it seems to pass the 
greater part of the time betwixt sunrise and sunset 
quietly on the bank of a stream, or on the branch of 
a tree, often with one leg drawn up under the body 
in a most picturesque manner. But, as soon as the 
shades of night set in, the heron becomes as anxious 
and impatient as a London alderman half an hour 
before the Lord Mayor’s festive dinner. It walks 
up and down the bank, or moves from branch to 
branch with extraordinary activity, every now and 
then stretching out its wings, and giving us to un- 
derstand, by various gesticulations, that it is about 
to commence its nocturnal peregrinations in quest 
of food. One loud and harsh cry, often repeated, 
now informs you that the heron is on wing, 
wending its way to some distant river, swamp, or 
creek. I suspect that this cry is never uttered but 
when the bird is flying. 
Formerly we had a range of fishponds here, one 
above the other, covering a space of about three 
acres of ground. Close by them ran a brook, from 
