BIRDS. S29 



curely. In this manner, after having been seen with his long 

 neck for above a minute under water, he rises upon the wing, 

 with a trout or an eel struggling in his bill to get free. The 

 greedy bird, however, files to the shore, scarcely gives it time to 

 expire, but swallows it whole, and then returns to fishing as be- 

 fore. 



As this bird does incredible mischief to ponds newly stocked, 



Wilioughby has given a receipt for taking him " Having found 



his haunt, get three or four small roach or dace, and having pro- 

 vided a strong hook with a wire to it, this is drawn just vvithiii- 

 side the skin of the fish, beginning without-side the gills, and 

 running it to the tail, by which the fish will not be killed, but 

 continue for five or six days alive. Then having a strong line 

 made of silk and wire, about two yards and a half long, it is tied 

 to a stone at one end, the fish with the hook being sulfered to 

 swim about at the other. This being properly disposed in shal- 

 low water, the heron will seize upon the fish to its own destruc- 

 tion. From this method we may learn, that the fish must be 

 alive, otherwise the heron will not touch them, and that this bird, 

 as well as all these that feed upon fish, must be its own caterer ; 

 for they will not prey upon such as die naturally, or are killed 

 by others before them." 



Though this bird lives chiefly among pools and marshes, yet 

 its nest is built on the tops of the highest trees, and sometimes 

 on cliifs hanging over the sea. They are never in flocks when 

 they fish, committing their depredations in solitude and silence ; 

 but in making their nests they love each other's society ; and 

 they are seen, like rooks, building in company with flocks of their 

 kind. Their nests are made of sticks, and lined with wool ; and 

 the female lays four large eggs of a pale green colour. The 

 observable indolence of their nature, however, is not less seen 

 m their nestling than in their habits of depredation. Nothing is 

 more certain, and I have seen it a hinidred times, than that they 

 will not be at the trouble of building a nest, when they can get 

 one made by the rook, or deserted by the owl, already provided 

 for them. This they usually eidarge and line within, driving off 

 the original possessors, should they happen to renew their fruit- 

 less claims. 



The French seem to have availed themselves of the indolence 

 of this bird in making its nest ; and they actually provide a place 



•d Eli 



