THE HERON. 1 5 1 



much thicker than their necks. If much teased they would disgorge 

 the fish. 



The following notes, by Robert Warren, jun., Esq., refer to a heron 

 taken from a nest in 1847, and kept at Castle Warren, co. Cork: — 

 " The favourite food of this bird is eels ; but any other fish will do as 

 well. It frequently swallows four or five large herrings at a meal. 

 Flesh-meat, the entrails of fowls, &c. suffice as food. After feeding, it 

 is very fond of basking in the beat of the sun, and will stand for hours 

 with its wings expanded enjoying the genial warmth. The bird is much 

 attached to me, as I always feed it, runs towards me shaking its wings, 

 and keeping up a cry evidently of pleasure. It evinces much gentle- 

 ness of disposition, and frequently stands caressing me with its bill. 

 But to strangers its manners are very different, as it attacks them with 

 the greatest fury, and although repeatedly driven back will continue to 

 return to the charge. It shows great antipathy to dogs, and if one 

 comes too near he is received with a stroke of its bill, which sends him 

 yelping away. I have often seen it fighting, although only on the 

 defensive, with a domestic cock. It was never wounded by that bird's 

 spurs ; for when attacked the heron stands quite steady in the attitude 

 in which it waits for prey, always facing, and closely watching every 

 movement of its adversary, and striking him with its bill whenever he 

 comes within reach of its long neck. When the cock flew upwards he 

 was always driven back by a stroke of the heron's bill. The cock, in 

 general, retreated on finding that he could make no impression on his 

 watchful foe. The heron beats the cock by wearing out his patience, 

 as it will remain for any length of time in an attitude of defence. The 

 patience of a score of cocks would be worn out by this bird. During 

 two months that I was absent from home, about the end of 1848, the 

 heron would not become familiar with any one, not even with the per- 

 son who fed it ; in fact it never was friendly with any one but myself. 

 On my return after the absence alluded to, it recognised me instantly, 

 and testified its joy by screaming and flapping its wings. It never, 

 indeed, uttered a sound at the presence of any other person." 



Another interesting account of a heron has been communicated by 

 Dr. J. D. Marshall of Belfast, who states : — " In the summer of 1848 

 I received a heron about a week old. It was then partially covered 

 with down, particularly on the head, where a crest was placed at least 

 an inch and half in length. The eye was very striking — the iris being 



