324 HISTORY OF 



easily discernible. As for the crane and the stovk, they differ 

 rather in their nature and internal conformation, than in their 

 external figure ; but still they may be known asunder, as well 

 by their colour as by the stork's claws, which are very peculiar, 



upper part of the throat, and legs, are pure wliite. Tlie naked space be- 

 tween the bill and eyes is of a grayish yellow ; the iris is yellow ; the bill 

 bluish above and yellow beneath ; the legs, which are bare of feathers for 

 two or three inches above the knees, are somewhat flesh-coloured in their 

 upper part and grayish brown below j and the claws black. The middle toe, 

 with the addition of its claw, does not measure more than four inches ; and 

 is consequently much shorter than the tarsus, which exceeds six inches in 

 length. Beneath the anterior half of the bill, which is about five inches 

 long, the skin is capable of considerable distention, 'there is little diflfereuca 

 in the colours of the female ; but the young bird has no crest on the head, 

 and its back and wings are of a darker gray. 



The Herons may be regarded as birds of passage, but their stay or depar. 

 ture seems everywhere to be regulated by their means of procuring food. 

 They are no where very abundant, although they are met with in almost 

 every part of the northern and temperate regions of the Old Continent, and 

 perhaps also in the New. In Europe they migrate as far northward as 

 Drontheim, and are foimd even in Russia and Poland, but they are most 

 common in England, France, and Holland. 



They buUd their nests, in numerous companies, on lofty trees, and more 

 especially oaks, in the immediate neighbourhood of streams and marshes. 

 The nest is of large dimensions, constructed externally of twigs, dry herbs 

 and reeds, and lined internally with feathers and wool. In this the female 

 deposits her eggs, three or four in number, about the size of those of the 

 common hen, but more elongated, and of a greemsh brown colour without 

 spots. The male does not share in the task of incubation ; but flies abroad 

 in search of food, whUe the female tends her charge at home. They are par. 

 ticularly fond of the society of ravens, but the latter often carry oif their 

 eggs ; and the falcons, weasels, and martens, are dangerous enemies to their 

 young. When the young are hatched, both parents assist in providing them 

 with food until they are able to fly, and bring them abundance of fish for 

 their support. But as soon as they become capable of a continued flight they 

 are driven from the nest, and proceed each in a separate direction to seek 

 Its own subsistence wherever it may be most plentifully procured. 



The old birds quit their nests about the middle of August, and wander 

 from stream to stream, and from lake to lake, forming themselves into gra- 

 dually increasing bands as the colder season approaches. Towards the be- 

 ginning of September they are often met with in companies of from twenty 

 to thirty in a spot ; but as soon as the frost sets in, they begin their migra. 

 tion to the southward, taking their flight by moonlight, like the Cranes, but 

 not with the same order and regtilarity. They return about the latter end 

 of March, when the severity of the season is no longer to be dreaded. Some 

 few, however, remain throughout the winter, especially when the weather 

 is variable, and are occasionally seen, in company with the wild ducks, at 

 the commencement of a sudden thaw. They usually disappear with the re. 

 turn of frost 



