488 CLASS AVES. 



The flesh of the heron is not good, though it was formerly 

 set down as a royal game. This, no doubt, was in conse- 

 quence of the fine sport these birds afforded in falconry, 

 from their elevated flight. Heron-hawking was a favourite 

 diversion with princes, and with our ancestors in general. No 

 one was permitted, out of his own ground, to take any 

 herons, except with falcons, or long bows ; and a penalty of 

 six and eight-pence was affixed to the infringement of this 

 statute. For taking the young out of the nest, there was a 

 fine of ten shillings, and for taking or destroying the eggs 

 from March 31st to June 30th, the punishment was a year's 

 imprisonment, and eight-pence for every egg. Heronries 

 were established in lofty woods, near waters, or even in towers, 

 where commodious aeries were presented to the birds to nestle 

 in, and even sgme profit resulted to the proprietors from the 

 sale of the young. 



Though this species seeks its food, &c. during the day in a 

 solitary manner, yet, in one sense, at least, it se^ms fond of 

 society. The individuals build their nests together, and as 

 many as eighty of these nests, says Dr. Latham, have been 

 seen on one tree. They generally choose the loftiest and most 

 stately trees for this purpose, and many of these kind of 

 heronries may be seen in various parts of England. 



The crests of the male heron are used as ornaments, both 

 in Europe, and, especially, in the east, and bear a very con- 

 siderable price. Sir John Chardin tells us, that the Persians 

 catch this bird, and when they have deprived it of its long 

 feathers, restore it to liberty. This is one example of the 

 gentleness towards the brute creation which is a peculiar and 

 honourable characteristic of all the Oriental, or, at least, of all 

 the Mahomedan nations. Cruelty, indeed, in general, is no 

 attribute of the eastern people, whatever may be supposed to 

 the contrary. It is true, that their princes and great men 

 have not usually proved themselves very scrupulous concern- 



