m COMMON HERON. Class IL 



from this diversion ; but in course of time serv- 

 ed to express great ignorance in any science.- 

 This bird was formerly much esteemed as a 

 food ; made a favourite dish at great tables, and- 

 was valued at the same rate as a pheasant. It 

 is said to be very long lived ; by Mr. Keyslers 

 account it may exceed sixty years * : and by a 

 recent instance of one that was taken in Hol- 

 land by a hawk belonging to the stadtholder, its 

 longevity is farther confirmed, the bird having a 

 silver plate fastened to one leg, with an inscrip- 

 tion, importing it had been before struck by the ^ 

 elector of Co^^yze"* hawks in 1755. ...Jr it:.«j?«6M 

 Descrip- Xhe male is a most elegant bird ; the weight - 

 about three pounds and a half, the length, three 

 feet three ; the breadth, five feet four. The bill 

 is six inches long, very strong and pointed; the 

 edges thin and rough ; the color dusky above^ 

 yellow beneath; the nostrils linear; the irides of a 

 deep yellow ; the orbits and space between them 

 and the bill covered with a bare greenish skin. 

 The forehead and crown white, the hind part 

 of the head adorned with a loose pendent crest 

 of long black feathers waving with the wind ; 

 the upper part of the neck is of a pure white, . 



;- " * Ket/sler's Travels, i. 70. •.:!•::,.:„' •:vb 



lion. 



