142 ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 



branches ; the powerful wings of the Heron, unequalled 

 by any bird of its size, enabling it to mount in the air 

 to an almost incredible height, and thus to put the 

 powers of the Falcon to their proof. For this purpose 

 it was customary to establish the Herons in a proper 

 situation, to which they were attached by precautions 

 taken for providing them with necessaries. These 

 heronries, as they were called, have now become ex- 

 tremely rare ; but one of them may still be seen, as we 

 are informed by Sir John Sebright, in the greatest 

 perfection, at Didlington in Norfolk, the seat of Colonel 

 Wilson. 



The Heron, when taken young, readily becomes habi- 

 tuated to captivity ; but the old birds generally refuse 

 all sustenance, and perish of inanition. In former days, 

 when it was necessary to procure such for the training 

 of the hawks, it was usual, according to Sir J. Sebright, 

 " to cram them with food, and to tie a piece of mat 

 round their necks to prevent them from throwing it up 

 again." Sometimes, however, the old birds have been 

 known to become tame and even domesticated ; and 

 the same distinguished authority to whom we have just 

 referred, mentions an instance that occurred within his 

 own knowledge, in which, after recourse had been had 

 to the operation of cramming and tying down the food, 

 the bird " became so tame as to follow its master on 

 the wing to the distance of some miles, to come into 

 the house when called, and to take food from the 

 hand." 



