356 BRITISH BIRDS. 



{Ardea cinerea), which nests in companies, "heron-shaws,"' upon 

 the tops of trees, on old walls amongst ivy, &c. They may 

 commence to build their large nests in January if the weather is 

 mild J but February is the general time for them to repair to 

 their nesting-places, which they frequent year after year. The 

 nests are large flat structures, formed of crossed sticks and lined 

 with grasses, &c. They lay three or four bluish-green eggs 

 about two and a half inches long, which hatch out in twenty- 

 eight to twenty-nine days. Young herons are nestlings, and 

 remain with the old ones about the heron-shaws until August. 

 In Eichmond Park they continue all the year round in their 

 nesting-wood. The adult male heron is three feet long, and 

 has a deep blue crest, the upper parts being slaty-grey, the 

 under parts dull greyish-white ; sides of the head and neck white, 

 bluish-brown streaks run down the neck. The female is not so 

 bright in colour as the male. The bill is yellow. Herons feed 

 on a great variety of food, and do some good by destroying 

 water-rats and field-mice ; they also eat quantities of insects, 

 molluscs, and frogs. Fish also are greedily devoured by them, 

 especially coarse fish, more especially eels. They fly with their 

 legs stretched straight out behind, and move their wings very 

 slowly, and so can easily be recognised when flying. Several 

 other species occur in England occasionally. 



The Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) was a resident bird, but is 

 now very rare, chiefly occurring as a winter visitor. 



5. Falconiformes. 



VuLTUBES, Hawks, Eagles, Buzzards, &c. (Acoipitebs). 



There are two families of the Accipitres in Great Britain 

 — namely, the Vulturidm and FaLconidm. The first-named, 

 the Vultures, are so extremely rare (only a few stragglers 

 having been recorded), that they call for no further comment. 



