44 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



may be seen perched on the branches contiguous to their 

 domiciles. They seem far less able to take care of them- 

 selves than the majority of birds of the same age, and are 

 fed by their parents until the end of August. 



Like most birds of prey, the Heron suffers alternately 

 from a scarcity and a superfluity of food, sometimes being 

 gorged to repletion, but more commonly hungry in ap- 

 pearance and lean in condition. 



In flight the long legs are stretched straight out 

 behind, and the neck curled back between the shoulders. 

 The character of the flight is heavy and flagging. Some- 

 times, however, the bird soars to a considerable height, and 

 whilst on the wing utters a harsh, discordant cry. 



One of the largest and most interesting heronries in 

 England is at Parham, in Sussex. Yarrell gives a list of 

 about thirty existing heronries in England ; but it is much 

 to be feared that they, in common with many other curiosi- 

 ties of natural history, are rapidly decreasing in number 

 and importance. 



