240 CROWS AND ROOKS. 



from the trees where the birds breed, about thirty- 

 five or forty standing on the ground, and occasionally 

 moving slowly in various directions. At first he 

 was uncertain what birds they were, as their heads 

 were thrown back, and they appeared little raised 

 from the ground ; but on approaching, the spot, he 

 was soon satisfied that they were Herons ; his pre- 

 sence, however, had no other effect, (though in 

 general they are remarkably shy and cautions,) than 

 inducing those nearest the hedge, where he had 

 stationed himself to watch their motions, to walk 

 leisurely to a more distant part of the field. He 

 remained for some time a spectator of their singular 

 assemblage, which impressed him with the opinion, 

 that it was a deliberate council ; and we agree 

 with him, that in this case at least, though not in 

 the preceding, which occurred in the Autumn, their 

 object was connected with the usual pairing, which 

 takes place about that time. We are the more 

 strengthened in the opinion, from having witnessed 

 meetings in some degree similar amongst Magpies, 

 and some other birds. 



In the month of February, we recollect once seeing 

 a prodigious number of Magpies in a field ; some 

 hopping about near the hedge, others secreted in the 

 hedges, and no less than twenty-seven perched on a 

 small ash-tree ; at first, the presence of a fox was 

 suspected, knowing it to be a constant practice with 

 these birds to collect if Reynard shows himself; but 

 as they did not appear to be hovering over any par- 

 ticular spot, as if a concealed enemy was lurking 

 near, we inclined to the opinion, that some private 

 concerns of their own had brought them together. 



