94 GREAT BLUE HERON. 



Heron sailed slowly towards the ground, where it no doubt found the 

 fish. On one occasion of this kind, the Hawk dropped the fish in the 

 water, when the Heron, as if vexed that it was lost to him, continued to 

 harass the Hawk, and forced it into the woods. 



The flight of the Great Blue Heron is even, powerful, and capable of 

 being protracted to a great distance. On rising from the ground or on 

 leaving its perch, it goes off in silence with extended neck and dangling 

 legs, for eight or ten yards, after which it draws back its neck, extends 

 its feet in a straight line behind, and with easy and measured flappings 

 continues its course, at times flying low over the marshes, and again, as if 

 suspecting danger, at a considerable height over the land or the forest. 

 It removes from one pond or creek, or even from one marsh to another, 

 in a direct manner, deviating only on apprehending danger. When about 

 to alight, it now and then sails in a circular direction, and when near the 

 spot it extends its legs, and keeps its wings stretched out until it has ef- 

 fected a footing. The same method is employed when it alights on a 

 tree, where, however, it does not appear to be as much at its ease as on the 

 ground. When suddenly surprised by an enemy, it utters several loud 

 discordant notes, and mutes the moment it flies off. 



This species takes three years in attaining maturity, and even after 

 that period it still increases in size and weight. When just hatched they 

 have a very uncouth appearance, the legs and neck being very long, as 

 well as the bill. By the end of a-week the head and neck are sparingly 

 covered with long tufts of silky down, of a dark grey colour, and the 

 body exhibits young feathers, the quills large with soft blue sheaths. 

 The tibio-tarsal joints appear monstrous, and at this period the bones of 

 the leg are so soft, that one may bend them to a considerable extent with- 

 out breaking them. At the end of four weeks, the body and wings are 

 well covered Math feathers of a dark slate colour, broadly margined with 

 ferruginous, the latter colour shewing plainly on the thighs and the flexure 

 of the wing ; the bill has grown wonderfully, the legs would not now easily 

 break, and the birds are able to stand erect on the nest or on the objects 

 near it. They are now seldom fed oftener than once a-day, as if their 

 parents were intent on teaching them that abstinence without which it 

 would often be difficult for them to subsist in their after life. At the 

 age of six or seven weeks they fly olF, and at once go in search of food, 

 each by itself. 



