which are its favourite resort. The nests of this Heron 

 are generally built amongst dense aquatic vegetation, 

 and are composed of dead reeds and sedges : I have 

 heard of instances in which the nest has been placed in 

 a tree, but, from my own experience, I am of opinion 

 that this bird is the least arboreal of European Herons ; 

 it is of a more skulking nature than our Common 

 Heron, in this respect approaching the Bittern. In 

 captivity the Purple Heron becomes tame to a certain 

 degree, but, as a rule, avoids observation as much as 

 circumstances will permit ; frogs are its favourite food, 

 but it may be fairly considered as omnivorous as the 

 others of its genus. 



