21o 



to indicate the approach of danger it erects the body, and raising the neck into a more graceful 

 S-shape, takes two or three slow steps to view the suspicious object; but so soon as its fears are 

 allayed it gradually relapses into its heavy, clumsy attitude, in which it will frequently stand in 

 shallow water motionless for a long time, waiting for some fish to approach. When walking it 

 takes leisurely steps, but is not graceful. Sometimes it will steal silently about in search of prey ; 

 and then the body is held almost horizontal, the neck being held forward in an undulating 

 position, and the beak kept low in readiness to strike its prey. Fish, however, are its chief 

 food ; and when these are to be had in abundance it scarcely feeds on any thing else ; but 

 according to circumstances it varies its bill of fare by catching water-insects, water-rats, mice, 

 or frogs, but seems to care least for the last. Young birds, when they come in its way, are not 

 disdained ; and it sometimes feeds on worms. It is a greedy feeder, and is said to consume a 

 large quantity of food per diem. During the breeding-season, when the young are hatched, it 

 must do considerable damage in places where there are fish-preserves ; and it will then extend its 

 rambles in search of food to a very considerable distance from the place where its young are. 

 It chiefly frequents freshwater streams which are shallow, and where the water is running, and 

 wades in almost up to its knees in search of its prey. It flight is strong and powerful ; and 

 though when on the wing it appears at the first glance to be moving slowly, such is not the case ; 

 for its flight is tolerably swift. When it rises it flaps its large wings quickly, and mounts on 

 the wing by making one or two powerful jumps; but soon settles down into its regular, some- 

 what slow and measured flaps, the neck being doubled and drawn in, and the legs extended 

 behind. Its note is a harsh, deep aall, which in the distance somewhat resembles the call of 

 the Wild Goose, and it is generally uttered when the bird is on the wing. When winged and 

 in mortal fear it utters a very harsh and wild cry, and lunges out viciously with its sharp 

 pointed bill, it being then dangerous to approach, for it almost always directs its attack at the 

 face of its enemy. 



It breeds usually in tolerably large colonies or heronries, many of which, containing a large 

 number of nests, used formerly to be scattered throughout England ; but now they have greatly 

 diminished both in number and size. Formerly the Heron was strictly preserved for the pur- 

 poses of falconry, and was looked on as royal game ; but since falconry has become obsolete it 

 is no longer under any protection, and has consequently become much less numerous. The nest 

 is usually placed on a high tree ; but sometimes it breeds on the rocks, and even on the ground, 

 should there be no trees in the neighbourhood. Usually the loftiest and most inaccessible trees 

 are selected, the nest being placed on some of the smaller branches, and constructed of small 

 branches, lined with finer branches or twigs and grass, wool, hair, &c. The nest is flat and 

 somewhat carelessly constructed, the central portion forming a sort of cup-shaped depression, 

 in which the eggs are deposited. These latter are usually three or four in number, but occa- 

 sionally five, or even six; for Mr. Collett informs me that in a heronry close to the town of 

 Stavanger, in Norway, six eggs were found in a nest which was examined in May 1868 by 

 Mr. Landmark. It not unfrequently nests in the same wood as the Cormorant; and the latter 

 will, Naumann says, often try to take possession of the Herons' nests, which is resisted by the 

 Herons ; but, he adds, when the Cormorants have effected an entrance into the herony, the 

 Herons do not return to breed there again the next year, but select another locality, leaving the 



