LITTORAL LAND BIRDS. 277 



and plantations, although a ledge on a cliff, or a 

 ruin, is sometimes selected. In many places, where 

 the Heron is sufficiently abundant, it breeds in 

 colonies, like Rooks, and resorts, year by year, to 

 the same localities. The nest is usually a huge pile 

 or platform of sticks, the cavity containing the eggs 

 sometimes being lined with turf and moss. Some 

 nests are much larger than others, the accumulation 

 of years, and most are whitewashed with the birds' 

 droppings. The eggs three to five in number 

 are greenish-blue, and chalky in texture. When 

 disturbed at their nests the big birds rise, crashing 

 through the branches into the air, and sail about 

 above the place in anxiety until left in peace. 

 They utter few or no notes of any kind. When 

 the young are nearly full grown, they may be seen 

 climbing about the trees, using their beak to assist 

 them in passing from one part of the tree to 

 another. The Heron is a bird of very wide distri- 

 bution, and is found throughout Europe, Africa, 

 Asia, and even Australia. 



In conclusion, we may remark that there are 

 many other land birds found upon certain parts 

 of the coast from time to time, especially during 

 the two great periods of migration in spring and 

 in autumn. The above short list must not be 

 regarded in any way as being exhaustive. It con- 

 tains, however, the most constantly characteristic 

 species. Many small Passerine birds frequent the 

 shore especially on our eastern and southern sea- 



