THE COMMON HERON. 143 



short, is of the same colour ; and the quills of the wings 

 and feathers of the bastard wings are black. The feathers 

 on the lower part of the neck, and the scapulars, are much 

 produced, and there is a tuft of long soft feathers on the 

 breast. 



The female has the head ash-grey, is without the crest, 

 and has the feathers of the lower part of the neck, and the 

 scapulars, less produced. The males, in their first plumage, 

 resemble the female. 



In the breeding time herons are gregarious, building their 

 heronries in trees, generally near some piece of water, not 

 regarding much the seclusion of the situation, though not 

 quite so familiar as rooks. When they once take up their 

 abode in any place, they do not quit it readily ; and if their 

 trees are cut down, they take possession of those that are 

 nearest ; but at other seasons, they often roost in situations 

 where they do not breed, if they find trees to their purpose 

 near the margin of waters which abound with fish. They 

 are seldom, indeed, seen solitary, but in pairs, or larger 

 numbers, according as the places where they seek their food 

 are nearer to the breeding places, or more remote from them. 

 The nest is large and flat, the platform composed of sticks, 

 and covered with rushes, dried aquatic grasses, wool, or other 

 soft materials. The eggs vary from four to six, but are 

 rarely the larger number ; they are greenish blue, and about 

 the size of those of the duck. 



During clear weather, they are not often seen on the wing, 

 as they fish in the very dawn of the morning, that being the 

 hour of the day when, in such weather, the fish come most 

 readily within their reach ; and during the heat of the day 

 they may be seen in their heronries in the breeding time, 

 and at other times standing on the tops of the trees, and 

 now and then slowly raising their long necks, and spreading 

 their wings, with not a little of the air which the indolent 



