114 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



skirmish occurs the former birds appear 



to be the aggressors. 



HERON'S NEST. 



Herons feed upon fish of different 

 kinds, eels, frogs, rats, voles, mice, and 

 occasionally birds. In the Hebrides I 

 have watched them catch both small 

 crabs and lobsters on the seashore. 

 Some idea of the power which the bird 

 can put into a blow of its bill when 



spearing a fish or mammal may be 

 gathered from the fact that a wounded 

 one has been known to drive it 

 through a boy's cheek and knock out 

 a molar. 



Curious beliefs exist in different 

 parts of the country as to the bird's 

 supposed powers to attract fish. 

 In Cumberland many anglers have a 

 rooted conviction that it emits oil from 

 its legs whilst standing in the water, 

 and that this exercises some fascinating 

 influence over its hungry prey. There 

 is also another widely prevalent idea 

 that the creature shakes a fine grey 

 powder from its plumage, and the 

 particles floating upon the water arouse 

 the curiosity of the finny tribes and 

 allure them within reach of the lightning- 

 like stroke of their enemy's bill. 



When young Herons leave the nest 

 they frequently alight with their parents 

 in the middle of some large open field 

 as storks do on the Continent ; but 

 whether this is for purposes of safety, 

 or in order that they may be taught the 

 gentle art of catching frogs, it is difficult 

 to say. 



