96 



THE HERON 



Frequents the banks of inland waters, and other marshy 

 places, and feeds, not only on the lesser marine and am- 

 phibious animals, but also on field-mice, insects, snails, 

 worms, &c. They build in large societies in the same 

 place ; in flying they carry their neck contracted and 

 folded over the back, and their legs straightened ; they 

 migrate periodically. 



The Common Heron, when full grown, measures more 

 than three feet in length ; the plumage of the back is of a 

 blue-grey, of the under parts white, and the sides black ; 

 on the head is a black depending crest. 



The Common Heron is found in most parts of the 

 world; it retires in winter from the frigid zone; in 

 England, however, where it abounds, it remains stationary. 

 It resides in watery situations, and feeds on small animals 

 of all kinds, Its great voracity renders it a dangerous 

 neighbour to the fish-pond. In the breeding season, the 

 Herons unite in flocks, and build together in the highest 

 trees : the nests are placed very near together, and the 

 number in one tree has been known to amount to eighty. 

 The nest is large and flat, made of sticks, and lined with a 

 few rushes and feathers, or wool. The eggs are three or 

 four in number, of a fine sea-green colour. Heron-hawking 

 was formerly an esteemed diversion: the flesh was in 

 repute for the table. 



THE DOTTEREL. 



THE length of this bird is about nine inches. Its bill 

 is black ; the cheeks and throat are white ; the back and 

 wings are of alight brown, inclining to olive ; the breast is 

 of a pale dull orange ; the belly, thighs, and vent, are of a 

 reddish white : the tail is of an olive colour. 



The Dotterel is common in various parts of Great Britain, 

 though in some parts it is scarcely known. They breed 

 in the mountains of Cumberland and Westmoreland and on 

 several of the Highland hills, where they are seen only 

 during the breeding season ; but they are very common in 

 Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire, appearing 

 in small flocks on the heaths and moors of those countries, 



