COMMON HERON. 
5.51 
which not being large enough to contain all the 
nests, many were placed on the ground. The 
nest is large and flat, made of sticks, and lined 
with a few rushes and wool, or feathers. The 
eggs are three or four in number, and are of a fine 
sea-green, and about the size of those of a Duck. 
The young birds are easily tamed, but the old 
birds soon pine away, as they refuse every kind of 
nourishment. 
Dr. Heysham has given a singular account of a 
battle between a colony of Herons and a neigh- 
bouring one of Rooks : the former having been 
deprived of their ancient premises by the removal 
of the trees, made an attempt to form a settlement 
in the rookery; which was effected after an ob- 
stinate contest, in which some on both sides lost 
their lives : but after a second victory of the Heix)iis, 
in the succeeding year, a truce was agreed upon, 
and both societies lived in harmony together, A 
fuller account of this is to be found in Bewick’s 
British Birds, above quoted. 
Heron hawking was formerly a favourite diver- 
sion in this kingdom, and a penalty of twenty shil- 
lings was incurred by any person taking the eggs of 
this bird. Its flesh was also in former times much 
esteemed, being valued at an equal rate with that 
of the Peacock. 
