198 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



Of her cities the boast — known to Gallia and Spain^- 

 To Afric*8 north clime, and the Nile's fertile plain ; 



Mediterranean^ feeds on fish. This bird bears confinement 

 and breeds in some menageries; its manners are gentle, and it 

 sometimes puts itself in elegant attitudes; at others strange 

 and uncouth, especially such as imitate dancing. At Florence 

 a bird of this species was taught to dance to a tune when 

 played or sung to it. It is called in some parts of the East 

 Kurki or Querky ; it is common in India, where it is seen in 

 vast flocks on the banks of the Ganges, in company with the 

 crane ; it is there called Curcuma and Currakeel. The trachea 

 of this bird is of singular construction, not going, as in most 

 birds, directly to the lungs, but first enters a cavity or groove 

 in the keel of the breast bone for about three inches, when it 

 returns, after making a bend forwards, and then passes into the 

 chest. 



The MajoTy Heron, Common -Heron, Hernj Crested-Heron y 

 Heronskaw, Hernshaw, Hernsew, or CranCy is about three feet three 

 inches long ; forehead and crown of the head white ; hind part of 

 the head feathers glossy black, very long, forming a loose pen- 

 dent crest ; neck whitish, scapulars grey and white, wing coverts 

 bluish grey ; bastard wings, greater quill feathers, and sides of 

 the body, from the breast to below the thighs, black ; beneath 

 white ; tail bluish ash colour ; legs very long. The female 

 wants the black and white feathers on the head, instead of 

 which that part is bluish grey, not much elongated into a crest. 

 Found in most parts of the known world, and common in the 

 fenny and marshy districts of England, where it builds fre- 

 quently in large numbers together on trees, such associations 

 being called Heronries or Cranaries. The nests are large and 

 flat, made with sticks, Imed with wool and other soft materials ; 

 eggs four or five greenish blue, size of those of a duck. Feeds 

 on fishes and reptiles. This bird has been observed repeat- 



