COMMON HERON. 469 



in North Africa during November and December. In Eastern Europe, in 

 consequence of the severer winters, they arrive somewhat later and 

 depart somewhat earlier, passing through Greece in March and again in 

 August. 



The Heron is found wherever there is water, and may be seen standing 

 in it, not only on the sea-shore and the banks of rivers and lakes, but also 

 in small brooks, ponds, marshes, and flooded fields. It has been so much 

 persecuted in the British Islands that heronries have become comparatively 

 rare, but it is still occasionally seen even at a long distance from its breeding- 

 colonies. It is specially partial to swamps, but is rarely seen on the high 

 lands. So conspicuous a bird has naturally become very wary, and soon 

 takes flight on the approach of danger. If not molested it may often be 

 seen standing in the water at some distance from the shore, remaining 

 almost motionless watching for its food, its neck bent, and its head almost 

 between its shoulders, ready at a moment's notice to dart its bill like an 

 arrow into the water to secure a fish or a frog. Occasionally it may be 

 seen walking with stately step on the mud, or resting with one leg drawn 

 up to its body. Not unfrequently it may be observed standing on the flat 

 branch of a pine tree, where it looks very singular and out of its element, 

 but not perhaps so much so as on the slender branches of a pollard willow 

 in the neighbourhood of its nest. The flight of the Heron is slow and 

 steady, with deliberate and regular beats of the long wings, and in the 

 evening several birds may sometimes be seen flying home to roost, steadily 

 and at a considerable height, like Rooks. Although the flight appears to 

 be so laboured, it is really very rapid, and the bird frequently wanders 

 great distances to feed. When flying, its long legs are carried straight out 

 behind, and serve to balance and guide it in its course, whilst the head is 

 drawn almost up to the shoulders. 



The Heron can scarcely be regarded as a gregarious bird, although it 

 breeds in colonies. Except at the nests it is seldom that more than four 

 or five are seen together, and in winter solitary Herons, mostly immature 

 birds, wander far from their birthplace, and take up their residence on the 

 banks of a suitable stream or creek. The Heron prefers running streams 

 to still water, and on the sea-coast frequents for the most part the mouths 

 of rivers. It is seldom or never seen to swim, except when winged ; but 

 "Waterton records that at Walton Hall the Herons occasionally alighted 

 on the deep water in hot weather, and swam just like Waterhens ; he also 

 observed them hovering above shoals of fish like a Tern. The Heron is 

 most active late in the evening and early in the morning. It may be 

 seen standing for some time in a large field a long way from water, and 

 is often disturbed from the horse-pond in a secluded corner; it is fre- 

 quently seen walking about amongst feeding cattle, but it never relaxes its 

 great wariness. 



