A Young Heron. 



THE HERON 



I 



body 



N the romantic days of fal- 

 conry the Heron was held 

 in high esteem on account 

 of the sport it afforded. 

 Breech-loaders and battues, 

 however, have robbed it of 

 its glory, and it is now dis- 

 regarded by nearly every- 

 except the trout angler, whose 



cordial dislike it earns through commit- 

 ting so much havoc in the ranks of his 

 favourite fish, especially throughout the 

 spawning season, when they are particu- 

 larly accessible. 



It breeds nearly all over the country, 

 but nowhere, I imagine, in such large 

 colonies as in former days, when Pennant 

 counted over eighty nests in a single 

 tree standing in a Lincolnshire heronry. 



The nest is a somewhat bulky struc- 

 ture, made of sticks and twigs, lined with 

 turf, moss, fibrous roots, and occasion- 



15 113 



ally, it is said, with wool and rags, 

 although personally I have never seen 

 either of the last-named materials used. 

 It is generally placed near the top of a 

 high tree in a plantation or wood, but 

 the bird readily adapts itsejf to circum- 

 stances, and in Ireland frequently builds 

 on bushes growing upon islands in lakes, 

 or even upon the ground. I have seen 

 nests in cliffs in the Outer Hebrides and 

 elsewhere. 



The eggs, numbering from three to 

 five, are of a pale bluish green colour. 

 In open seasons this species will some- 

 times commence to breed as early as 

 January. It is said to be double brooded, 

 and in the Island of Skye I have seen 

 eggs as late as the month of June. 



Although there would appear to be an 

 everlasting feud between rooks and 

 Herons, they frequently breed in prox- 

 imity to each other, and whenever a 



