ARDEINJE. ARDEA. 129 



Male, 39i 72, 18, 4, 6 T V, 3, ft. 



The Common Heron frequents the margins of rivers, pools, 

 and lakes, as well as the shores of inlets of the sea, where it 

 may often be observed patiently watching for its prey, or 

 slowly walking among the mud or weeds. Perched on a 

 stone by the water, reposing on one foot, with its neck re- 

 tracted, it remains motionless for hours, until a fish, or frog, 

 or other object attract its notice, or it be roused by the appre- 

 hension of danger. At other times, however, it is seen wan- 

 dering among the stones, and in the shallows, in quest of 

 small fishes, reptiles, crabs, or shrimps, according to the lo- 

 cality. It also feeds by moonlight, and is said to be in best 

 condition when the moon is full. It is remarkable for its vo- 

 racity and the rapidity of its digestion. Its flight is sedate, 

 buoyant, but seeming heavy ; and in moving to a distance it 

 generally flies high, sailing at intervals. It breeds in society, 

 nestling in high trees. The eggs are from three to five, light 

 bluish-green, broadly elliptical, two inches and a quarter in 

 length, an inch and nine-twelfths in breadth. 



Heron. Heronshaw. Crested Heron. 



Ardea major and cinerea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 236. Ardea 

 cinerea, Lath. Ind. Ornith. ii. 691. Ardea cinerea, Temm. 

 Man. d' Ornith. ii. 567. Ardea cinerea, Grey Heron, Mac- 

 Gillivray, Brit. Birds, iv. 



222. ARDEA PURPUREA. PURPLE HERON. 



Middle toe and claw longer than the tarsus. Adult with 

 a longitudinal occipital crest of acuminate decurved feathers ; 

 neck longitudinally banded with greenish-black and light red ; 

 plumage of the body greyish-blue, dark green, and light red ; 

 bill yellow ; feet yellow, with the scutella and claws dusky. 

 Young without elongated feathers on the head_, back, or fore- 

 neck ; the fore-head black, hind-head reddish, fore-neck yel- 

 lowish-white, spotted with black ; feathers of the back dusky 

 grey, margined with light red ; legs whitish, bill yellow, with 

 a great part of the upper mandible dusky. 



Male, 36, . . , 15J, 5j, 5j, 4 T 7 , 1 T V. 



Very extensively distributed in Asia, Africa, and Europe, 

 extending northward as far as Holland, where it is not un- 

 common. It has several times been obtained in England^ 

 where, however, it ranks only as an accidental straggler. 

 The eggs are broadly elliptical, two inches and a twelfth in 

 length, and of a pale greenish-blue colour. 



