324 O F B I R D S. 



one ferrated underneath, for holding faft its anguillaceous prey, 

 and other lubricous fifties ; the outer fore-toe united at the bafe 

 to the middle one by a membrane. The back-claw exceeds all 

 the refl in fize and length. From a notion that it preferves the 

 teeth, it fomctimes has the honour of being fet in filver for a 

 tooth-pick. The eggs are of a greenifli white, ufually about 

 four or five in number, laid in a tuft of mofs, fedges, or rufhes. 

 The bird here defcribed was mot in Widdrington-^&Tk, and pre- 

 fented to me. Mofl of our alpine mofles have its company. A 

 mofs to the north of Many-Laws, in the parim. of Carham, is rarely 

 without it, where it is called the Mire-Drum, from its fmgular 

 loud note, especially in the fpring, which is then its congratula- 

 tory ovation to its mate on the arrival of it, when there is a kind 

 of refufcitation of beauty throughout all nature, and univerfal 

 gladnefs. 



21. The ajh-coloured Heron, or Htrnjliaiv (y), is common. It 

 builds gregatim upon trees. On a farm of Sir Harry Grey's, by 

 the weftern margin of a trout-ftreamlet, called Glen, under Che- 

 viof, there is ufually a fine hernery, at the vernal revolution. 

 It is very entertaining to fee the polity, the pleafures, and amufe- 

 ments of this pifciverous community. Some are centinels, and 

 take their poft on the fide of a funny bank, to fee that no danger 

 is near, whilft the reft of the fociety are at work, fome in build- 

 ing their little temporary city, fome in laying their eggs, fome 

 in attending their young, others up above the thighs in water 

 exploring food for them, returning from the Glen, and other 

 neighbouring ftreams, with a conftant fupply of fifh-provifions. 

 An univerfal harmony reigns among them; not a bird to be 



(y) Ardea cinerea major, ff-'ill. Orn. p. 203. t. 49. Raj. Av. p. 98. n. i. Charht. Av. 

 p. 109. n. i. Ardea ciifta dependcnte. Linn. Faun. Suec. p. 48,49. n. 133. 



feen 



