188 THE HERON. 



the feathers, by coming in contact with the outer 

 materials of which the nest is formed, would be 

 forced into a direction quite opposite to that which 

 they have received from the hand of nature. Hence 

 we may safely conclude that neither the herons, nor 

 any other birds of the creation, ever perform their 

 incubation with their legs on the outside of the 

 nest. 



In the day-time this bird seldom exhibits any very 

 extraordinary activity. Although it will fly from 

 place to place at intervals, still it seems to pass the 

 greater part of the time betwixt sunrise and sunset 

 quietly on the bank of a stream, or on the branch of 

 a tree, often with one leg drawn up under the body 

 in a most picturesque manner. But, as soon as the 

 shades of night set in, the heron becomes as anxious 

 and impatient as a London alderman half an hour 

 before the Lord Mayor's festive dinner. It walks 

 up and down the bank, or moves from branch to 

 branch with extraordinary activity, every now and 

 then stretching out its wings, and giving us to un- 

 derstand, by various gesticulations, that it is about 

 to commence its nocturnal peregrinations in quest 

 of food. One loud and harsh cry, often repeated, 

 now informs you that the heron is on wing, 

 wending its way to some distant river, swamp, or 

 creek. I suspect that this cry is never uttered but 

 when the bird is flying. 



Formerly we had a range of fishponds here, one 

 above the other, covering a space of about three 

 acres of ground. Close by them ran a brook, from 



