HEEONS. 363 



day. It is remarked that the number of couples is always nearly 

 the same as that of the nests, so that each couple may readily find 

 a resting-place. The new generation must, therefore, have gone 

 to found a fresh colony in some other locality. 



Heronries are becoming more and more rare. M. Toussenet 

 states that he has met with only one in all France, that at Ecury 

 (Marne), between Epernay and Chalons. They are not uncommon 

 in England, where many ancient families connect the heronry 

 with their ancestral grandeur. Lord Warwick^s heronry, on 

 the classic Avon, still maintains seventy or eighty pairs of the 

 noble birds. 



The Grey Heron has enemies in the Eagle, the Falcon, and the 

 Crows. The latter combine to steal its eggs ; the former aim at 

 the Heron itself, its flesh being much to their taste. When the 

 Heron finds itself pursued by a bird of prey, it immediately dis- 

 encumbers itself of all unnecessary ballast, and then endeavours to 

 get the uppermost in flying ; this plan is nearly its only means of 

 safety. Occasionally it succeeds, for the Heron is able to attain 

 immense altitudes. If it is close pressed, it makes an admirable 

 use of its bill as a means of defence, and has been known to 

 impale its adversary. Its usual tactics are, to wait for its enemy, 

 lance in rest, and to allow the latter to pierce himself through, 

 merely by his own impetuosity. If it has a chance to dart its 

 bill into the eye of its foe, it does not neglect so good an oppor- 

 tunity of utilising its small endowments. This is, in fact, a pri- 

 vate lunge, a coup de grace, and many a dog, hunting among 

 the reeds, has felt the poignancy of this offensive weapon. We 

 must, however, allow that the Heron is not always so fortunate, 

 and that oftener than not he becomes a prey to his eager adver- 

 saries — the Eagle and the Falcon. 



The magnificent powers of flight possessed by the Heron, and 

 his clever devices in defending himself, gave rise, in days gone by, 

 to the very special regard with which he was honoured by kings 

 and princes, who hunted him with Falcons trained to the sport. The 

 poor Heron was doubtless not very gratified for these marks of 

 high esteem, and it is probable that, if he could be consulted at 

 the present day, he would bless the happy obscurity in which he 



