388 THE COMMON AND THE LITTLE HERON. 



gut, which distinguishes it from other birds. Hence it comes 

 to pass, that all my correspondents unanimously assure me 

 that a heron may eat an eel three times over, which is hardly 

 swallowed before one sees the head or body pass out again 

 from the bird's fundament, and then immediately the bird 

 turns about, and swallows it a second or third time, before 

 he relinquishes it." 



The heron and this even when domesticated has the 

 singular custom of always first dipping in the water every 

 thing it eats. It feeds greatly on the finny tribe. When 

 fishing, it for the most part remains motionless in the water, 

 until such time, at least, as the small fry approach within 

 reach of its murderous bill, when it seizes and devours them ; 

 hence the belief entertained by the common people in Sweden 

 and other countries, that its legs have a peculiar odour, 

 whereby the fish are attracted to the spot. Pontoppidan has 

 another version of the story : " Its long legs," he says, " are 

 a great help to it to get provisions. On these legs are a very 

 few fine hairs, which play softly in the water ; and that 

 motion entices the fish, who are not aware of the devouring 

 beak." The real attraction consists probably in the drop- 

 pings of the bird. 



As with us in England, the heron usually breeds in lofty 

 trees, and for the most part in colonies, often numbering 

 a hundred or more. Ten to twelve nests may frequently be 

 seen in the same tree. The female lays from three to four 

 eggs of a uniform bluish-green colour. The period of incu- 

 bation is about three weeks, during which she alone is said 

 to sit upon them. 



The Little Heron, or Little Bittern (Dverg-Hager, or 

 Dwarf-Heron, Sw. ; A. minuta, Linn.). This bird is rare 



