320 HISTORY OF 



prey upon such as die naturally, or are killed by 

 others before them." 



Though this bird lives chiefly among pools and 

 marshes, yet its nest is built on the tops of the 

 highest trees, and sometimes on cliffs hanging 

 over the sea. They are never in flocks when they 

 fish, committing their depredations in solitude 

 and silence ; but in making their nests they love 

 each other's society, and they are seen, like 

 rooks, building in company with flocks of their 

 kind. Their nests are made of sticks, and lined 

 with wool, and the female lays four large eggs, 

 of a pale green colour. The observable indolence 

 of their nature, however, is not less seen in their 

 nestling than in their habits of depredation. No- 

 thing is more certain, and I have seen it a hun- 

 dred times, than that they will not be at the 

 trouble of building a nest when they can get one 

 made by the rook, or deserted by the owl, already 

 provided for them. This they usually enlarge 

 and line within, driving off the original possessors, 

 should they happen to renew their fruitless claims. 



The French seem to have availed themselves 

 of the indolence of this bird in making its nest, 

 and they actually provide a place with materials 

 fitted for their nestling, which they call Heronries. 

 The heron, which with us is totally unfit for the 

 table, is more sought for in France, where the 

 flesh of the young ones is in particular estimation. 

 To obtain this, the natives raise up high sheds 

 along some fishy stream ; and furnishing them 

 with materials for the herons to nestle with, these 

 birds build and breed there in great abundance. 



