SOME FEATHERED BUILDERS 5 



gave me some very interesting records of the 

 past, together with their views on present 

 times. 



Heronries have, from various causes, become 

 almost exterminated in some places. This 

 has been owing in many instances to changes 

 made when estates which they favoured have 

 changed owners. As our worthy old landlord 

 rightly observed, " Them 'ere herns is niffy 

 things. I've knowed 'em shift from one place 

 twice ; once when they felled some timber, an r 

 once when the rooks upset 'em. It was a 

 midlin' chow-row-and-chivy with 'em fur a time. 

 The rooks started it through a-robbin' o' the 

 twigs from the herns' nests ; but they cum back 

 agin. You'd scarce think it, but them 'ere herns 

 kin git about in the trees like cats, an' hold 

 on like 'em too ; an' they're the most wicked 

 an' sharp- nghtin' things as I knows of. Mother 

 here knows all about it. We was a-coortin' 

 like when that queer job took place. Them 

 -young 'uns doan't leave their nestin' trees fur a 

 most menjous long time ; the old 'uns feed 'em 

 there, even when they're full-feathered an' as 

 big as they be themselves. My master, as wus 

 then, mind ye, waunted sum o' they big young 

 'uns fur tu send tu sum friend o' his fur tu start 



