2420 Birds. 



The Heronry in Coley Park, Berks. — During a residence of more than four years 

 at Reading I have had an excellent opportunity of observing the habits of the heron, 

 from my frequent visits to the heronry, about a mile from this town, in Coley Park, 

 the seat of John Bligh Monck, Esq. About fifteen years ago a pair of herons built 

 their solitary nest on the top of a fine lime in the park, growing on a small island 

 close to the Holy-brook, and not far distant from the neighbouring 



" Kennet swift, for silver eels renowned." 



There are, indeed, two of these handsome trees, standing so close together that the 

 boughs form one large head of foliage, in which at the present time are upwards of 

 fifty nests. The original pair of herons, having brought up their young, took their 

 departure — with the brood — in the following autumn ; but in January of the succeed- 

 ing year they all returned, and during the next month they actively commenced 

 founding the colony, which has gone on gradually increasing to the present time. 

 Mr. Monck was so well pleased with these new visitors locating themselves in view of 

 his mansion, that he not only ordered his servants to leave the birds unmolested, but 

 also inserted a clause to the same effect in the lease of a neighbouring tenant. So 

 numerous are the nests on these trees, from successive repairs and additions during 

 each succeeding year, that many of them touch one another ; and such is the quantity 

 of sticks heaped together, that many of them are actually a yard in height. These 

 nests remain throughout the winter ; and the whole, at a distance, looks like the work 

 of a colony of rooks. Within the last year or two the herons have constructed a few 

 new nests on some large elms growing at a short distance off in the park, and here, 

 too, the rooks have also built several nests ; but they appear too wise to attempt any 

 encroachment on the original heronry in the neighbouring limes. Some jackdaws, 

 starlings and sparrows have, however, long occupied the crevices on the under part of 

 the large nests I have attempted to describe, — and here they annually breed, — not, 

 however, in the most perfect harmony, as might be expected in such a republic ; for 

 it is an amusing sight to witness the occasional conflicts of the rooks and these occu- 

 pants of the limes, as well as the frequent struggles between the latter birds them- 

 selves. Notwithstanding the contiguity of the two branch railways to Newbury and 

 Basingstoke, from Reading, which are now open, and run within a short distance of 

 the heronry, the birds do not seem to be in the least disturbed by the change which 

 has taken place in the former quietude and seclusion of this once retired spot. Indeed 

 they are every year increasing more and more ; and, what is singular, about four 

 years ago a few emigrants from the original stock established themselves in some 

 large beech trees about three miles distant : these trees were in the midst of an exten- 

 sive wood, and what is more remarkable they are situated on a high hill, with no 

 water nearer than the Thames, which is not within half a mile. During the breeding 

 season, frogs and fishes appear to be the favourite food, which the old herons bring 

 home in the pouch under the bill, in the same manner as the common rook : the young 

 not only wait patiently for this arrival, but even abstain after the prey has been thrown 

 up into the nest, devouring it, however, most greedily when the parent bird has left the 

 spot in search of a fresh supply. The lime is a tree which does not come into leaf till 

 late in the spring, so that it is a pretty and not unusual sight to see the young herons 

 sitting on the boughs before the foliage has appeared. I have often looked under 

 these trees for dead fish, which I am told were at one time found here ; but lately I 



