GRALLATORES. 161 



taken (during the last week of May and first week of 

 June) not one of them contained four eggs. The full 

 complement appeared to be three, for in several in- 

 stances I found three eggs so much incubated that 

 it was impossible to blow them. 



I have noticed a peculiarity which this bird appears 

 to have, in common with some few other of the 

 waders. When alighting at the edge of the water, 

 the flocks always pitch with their heads to the wind, 

 and no doubt the reason for this is, that were they 

 to alight with the wind at their backs, they might be 

 carried over the edge into the water. 



In concluding my notes on this species, it may be 

 observed that the term ' Oystercatcher ' is a misno- 

 mer; for, although the bird has a long powerful 

 bill with which it can detach limpets from the rock, 

 and break open mussels and small crabs, an oyster 

 entirely baffles all its attempts. 



Family ARDEID^E. 



HERON, Ardea cinerea. The Heron is a common 

 resident, and appears most numerous in autumn, at 

 which season many may be seen in the course of a 

 walk, fishing at our reservoirs and brooks. The 

 majority of these are young birds. One day in 

 September I counted seven within a short distance 

 of each other. 



There is a heronry at Osterley Park, in this 



p 3 



