Common Heron. 395 



sometimes steal unawares on this wary, suspicious bird, though 

 always on the alert against surprise. In Wiltshire it is known 

 by the provincial name of ' Jack/ and unfortunately is generally 

 known to the country people as the ' crane/ which it is difficult to 

 persuade them is a misnomer, and which creates no little confusion 

 of species. The middle claw of each foot of this bird is serrated 

 on the sides, like the foot of the nightjar. In France it is known 

 as Heron huppe, ' Crested Heron/ and Heron cendrt; and in 

 Germany as Aschgrauer Reiher, ' Ash-grey Heron ;' in Italy as 

 Aghirone and Airone; and in Sweden as Hdger. Professor Skeat 

 says that all these, as well as our English word ' Heron/ are prob- 

 ably derived from the harsh voice of the bird. That the Common 

 Heron breeds in colonies is well known to everybody ; but it will, 

 I think, be a surprise to many, as I own it was to myself, until 

 I investigated the matter carefully, to find that we have no less 

 than seven Heronries in Wiltshire, in addition to some outlying 

 nests or small colonies which have been noticed in various locali- 

 ties. As I made the existence of Heronries and their details 

 a special object of inquiry, and as I have received the informa- 

 tion I sought from a large number of obliging correspondents 

 in all parts of the county, I believe I am now able to offer 

 a pretty accurate account of all the existing Heronries in 

 Wiltshire, and I proceed to enumerate them in order, beginning 

 with the most northern district. 



1. Grouch Wood, Highworth. The largest Heronry which 

 flourishes at this day in the county is of very recent origin, and 

 is situated at Crouch Wood, in the parish of Highworth, but on 

 the Hannington Hall property, and belonging to Mr. Hussey- 

 Freke. The covert at Crouch was planted with gorse as a fox- 

 cover some fifty-four years since, and amongst the gorse were 

 scattered a certain number of trees, chiefly larch. It was only 

 about eight or nine years ago that the Herons began to occupy 

 these trees, just before Mr. Hussey-Freke bought the wood and 

 the farm adjoining. The Herons are very carefully protected 

 here, and last year the nests were computed to amount to 

 between sixty and seventy ; but as elsewhere in the county 



