140 ARDEIDiE. 



with the remains of fish ; as, on Dec. 14, was another with the 

 remains of frogs. — Jan. 26, 1839. One exhibited a mass of con- 

 ferva-like vegetable matter, and portions of water -beetles.* It 

 would thus seem that the food of the heron is often of a much 

 smaller description than we are informed of by writers on the 

 subject. 



In February 1839 a heron was picked up by a shooter as it 

 lay helpless, and nearly dead, on the surface of Belfast bay. The 

 cause of this catastrophe was at once apparent, — a large eel 

 having been found sticking tightly in its throat ; this fish, 

 twenty-six inches in length, and four and a half inches in circum- 

 ference at the vent, was rather a formidable mouthful. Its head 

 was partly digested. The bird had probably picked up the eel 

 when standing at the edge of the channel ; and being unable to 

 take wing, had been lifted by the flowing tide on winch it was 

 seen floating. 



Another instance of the heron's falling a prey, apparently, to 

 its intended victim is recorded in the following note : — Lord 

 Castlereagh and the Rev. John Cleland being in company, in the 

 neighbourhood of Portaferry, about the year 1785, were attracted 

 by the violent screams of a heron rising from a marsh, and 

 they paid particular attention to it. The bird kept on wing for a 

 short time, and then fell to the ground ; when, on hurrying to 

 the spot, they observed a stoat {Mustela erminea) running away ; 

 and found the heron dead from a wound which that animal had 

 made in its throat.f 



Mr. Yarrell remarks that " if an eel chance to be the object 

 caught, the heron has been seen to quit the water, to make the 

 more sure of his prey by beating it against the ground till it is 

 disabled/' (vol. ii. p. 446). J Tins proceeding I have frequently 



* Mr. Poole notes the large water-beetle {Dytiscus marginalis) as forming part 

 of the heron's food. 



f This was communicated by Mr. Cleland to Mr. J. Montgomery of Locust Lodge, 

 in Aug. 1822. 



| The 3rd vol. of YarrelFs British Birds, p. 429, contains a note and most spirited 

 vignette of a heron being killed by an eel in a different manner from tbat above 

 related. 



