110 THE HERON. 



occurence may be possible ; and the greater the force 

 with which the assailant descends, the greater is the 

 probability of its being fatally pierced by the bill. 

 Even when wounded, the heron is a dangerous bird ; 

 and when winged, it cannot be approached but with 

 the utmost caution. The bill is darted out with rapid 

 and unerring aim, at the eyes of whatever animal comes 

 within its range ; and powerful dogs have been struck 

 blind in rushing too hastily upon a wounded heron. 



Under almost any circumstances the herons are 

 found in pairs ; and in the breeding season they con- 

 gregate in flocks, like rooks. The female heron lays 

 four or five eggs of a bluish green colour, and about 

 the size of those of the duck. Their nests are usually 

 built upon lofty trees ; but so fond are they of the 

 society of each other, that rather than separate, part 

 of them will build on the ground. Montague mentions 

 a heronry upon a little island in a lake in the north of 

 Scotland, where, there being but one stunted tree for 

 a great number of herons, as many as it could support 

 made their nests on it, and the rest congregated round 

 it on the earth. Twenty nests upon one tree is not an 

 unusual number in cases where they are pinched for 

 room. The nests are large and flat ; the frame-work 

 being made of twigs ; and the inner coating of wool, 

 feathers, moss, or rushes, according as there may happen 

 to be a supply. While the period of incubation lasts, 

 the male fishes with assiduity, and provides his mate 

 with a supply of food ; but after the young are hatched, 

 both parents assist in providing for them. In situations 

 that are well adapted for the construction of heronries, 

 the birds have great reluctance to leave them, even 



