486 CLASS AVES. 



in the worst weather, on some stump in the midst of an invm- 

 dated raeadoAV, while the blongios takes shelter in the thick 

 herbage, and the bittern in the midst of the reeds. These 

 herons, which unite to their sad and monotonous existence all 

 the torments of perpetual fear and inquietude, are not accus- 

 tomed to take flight, except at night, and for the purpose of 

 betaking themselves into the woods of thick and lofty foliage 

 in the neighbourhood, and from which they return before the 

 dawn of day. Then it is that their sharp and unpleasant 

 scream is heard, which might be compared to that of a goose 

 were it not - shorter and more melancholy. In the day-time 

 they fly away to a great distance from the sight of man, and 

 when attacked by the eagle or the falcon, they endeavour to 

 escape by rising into the air, and getting above them. Belon 

 tells us that, as a last means of defence, and when they are 

 almost overtaken by a bird of prey, they pass their head 

 under their wing, and present their pointed bill to the assail- 

 ant, who, rushing on it with too much impetuosity, is himself 

 pierced ; but the fact is, that this is the natural position of 

 their bill in the ordinary action of flight. The heron, in this 

 case, stretches his legs behind, and rests the neck, head, and 

 bill on the back, and the bill then appears to issue from the 

 chest. Its wings, larger in proportion than those of any 

 bird of prey, and very concave, strike the air in an equal and 

 regvdated motion, and this uniform flight raises and carries 

 its body, so slender and light, to such an elevation, that, at a 

 distance, nothing is perceptible except the wings, which are 

 at length lost sight of in the region of the clouds. Among 

 the symptoms of the approaching storm, Virgil notices this 

 lofty flight of the heron : 



Notasque paludes 



Deserit, atque altam supra volat ardea nubem. 



The common herons place their nests on the summit of the 



