234 EARLY ANNALS OF ORNITHOLOGY 
painted like the birds placed within: fourteen dozens have 
been taken at once. Their season is from the beginning of 
August to that of November. They disappear with the first 
frosts.” 
To go on with the narrative. “The short-eared Owl,” 
continues Pennant, “visits the neighbourhood of Washen- 
brough along with the Woodcocks, and probably performs its 
migration with those birds, for it is observed to quit the 
country at the same time: I have also received specimens of 
them from the Danish dominions, one of the retreats of the 
Woodcock. This Owl is not observed in this country to perch 
on trees, but conceals itself in long old grass; if disturbed, 
takes a short flight, lights again, and keeps staring about, 
during which time its horns are very visible. The farmers 
are found of the arrival of these birds, as they clear the fields 
of mice, and will even fly in search of prey during day, provided 
the weather is cloudy and misty. But the greatest 
curiosity in these parts is the vast Heronry at Cressi Hall, 
six miles from Spalding. The Herons resort there in February 
to repair their nests, settle there in the spring to breed, and 
quit the place during winter. They are numerous as Rooks, 
and their nests so crowded together, that myself, and the 
company that was with me, counted not less than eighty in 
one spreading oak. I here had opportunity of detecting my 
own mistake, and that of other ornithologists, in making two 
species of Herons ; for I found that the Crested Heron was 
only the male of the other: it made a most beautiful appear- 
ance with its snowy neck and long crest streaming with the 
wind. The family who owned this place was of the same 
name with these birds, which seems to be the principal induce- 
ment for preserving them. In the time of Michael Drayton, 
Here stalked the stately crune, 
As though he march’d in war. 
But at present this bird is quite unknown in our island . . .” 
This testimony about the Crane is repeated in the 
“ British Zoology,” and has been already quoted (supra, p. 168). 
Nevertheless, some Cranes must have still existed in Lincoln- 
shire, if we are to credit John Hill, who, writing in 1752, affirms 
that he had seen large flocks of them in that county, yet it 
