Heronry in Chillingham Parh, in North Northumherland, 

 By Thomas Tate, of Alnwick. 



About half-way down from the summit of Ross Castle hill, 

 and within Chillingham Park is a thick plantation, called 

 Fox's Knows, composed for the greater part of fir, inter- 

 mingled here and there with a few lofty heech and plane 

 trees. Visiting it in July, I heard hoarse discordant sounds, 

 and saw numerous ungainly-looking birds peering down 

 from their lofty perches, with an air betokening more of 

 curiosity than fear. Here is located a heronry, the only one 

 in North Northumberland. I counted forty nests in all, each 

 nest being generally alone on its own particular tree. None, 

 however, was on the lofty and almost inaccessible plane and 

 beech trees, but upon the firs which could be easily climbed ; 

 and such were chosen by the herons, probably tempted by 

 the safe foundation the branches afford for their huge wide- 

 spread nests. 



Having defied my coat, I climbed to one of their nests, 

 and found it made of sticks of fir placed crossways, and lined 

 with sheep's wool and dry moss. Neither young nor eggs 

 were in it ; but the number of fish bones, and the bones of a 

 water rat, gave unequivocal signs of recent occupation. 



To the north-east is another but smaller breeding place, 

 which was the original heronry ; and my guide recollected 

 its being there as far back as twenty years. Owing to in- 

 creasing numbers and consequent want of room for nestage, 

 the old birds drove away the younger ones, who took refuge 

 in their present abode at Fox's Know, where they have been 

 located about six years. 



These herons wing their way to considerable distances 

 during the day, in search of food; to the Cheviots, and 

 valleys of the Till, Tweed, and Aln, and to the sea coast, a 

 distance of from fifteen to twenty miles. Invariably they 

 return home at night. In the morning they are early astir 

 by day break, and they are late goers to their roost, for they 

 are heard screeching and clammering over the houses of the 

 villagers, as late as midnight, on their way homeward. 



Two or three years ago, a young heron frequented the 

 village of Chillingham ; having as is supposed been hatched 

 late in the season, it was unable to travel to a distance, and 

 was therefore driven by inclement weather to seek food from 

 the inhabitants. Many times during the day, for several of 

 the winter months, it might be seen wandering from house 



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