THE HERON. 135 



An exception to the heron's mode of return, as described, is 

 indicated in the following note : — Nov. 11, 1840. A sun-bright 

 lovely day. When walking for three miles along the Antrim shore 

 of the bay from Belfast, after the tide had a little receded, the 

 birds, winch were very numerous near the road, proved extremely 

 interesting. Dunlins and ringed dotterel were flying in little 

 troops, uttering their pleasing cries, and moving towards the great 

 body of not less than a thousand of their species. Redshanks, 

 attracting immediate attention by their loud and lively whistle, 

 appeared most graceful as they alighted, and the handsomely 

 formed wing, flung up so as to exhibit the under surface at 

 the moment they touched the ground, flashed in silvery whiteness 

 upon the sight. The sea gulls, in their snowy garb, were as usual 

 highly attractive ; but the herons bore off the palm from all the 

 others. After having been driven from the banks by a high tide, 

 they w r ere returning, now that it had ebbed ; and the whole 

 expanse of sky before me was enlivened by their presence. At 

 one view, spread singly over the atmosphere, I reckoned fifty. 

 The many-coloured sky, chiefly blue, with white and rich yellow 

 clouds, against which they were seen, much enhanced their ap- 

 pearance. I have occasionally, though not to-day, remarked the 

 white portion of the heron's plumage to look beautifully roseate, 

 with the rich tints of the setting sun upon it. 



In the demesnes alluded to on the Antrim shore, the herons 

 seldom perch on trees — apparently never through choice — by day ; 

 but they roost on those at Fort William, &c. during the night. 



Instead of the movements just detailed, the following is the 

 practice during neap tides. As remarked on September 20, 1838, 

 thirty-two herons appeared standing together on a small portion 

 of the beach surrounded by the tide (about a hundred yards from 

 the road), awaiting its ebb. An hour afterwards they were nearly all 

 in the same spot, the banks being not yet sufficiently uncovered. 

 On the 24th of the same month, thirty-six of these birds were con- 

 gregated at the same place during high water, and looked very 

 picturesque. Most of them were motionless; but others, espe- 

 cially those about the edge of their little island, were in various 



