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 daytime 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 understand, 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 



