HERON. v 4 i 



tory * : are migratory, returning northward to breed in the 

 fpring, and generally choofing the fame places which had been 

 occupied by them the feafon before f. In the winter inhabiting 

 the warmer regions, fuch as Egypt J, Aleppo ||, India, &c. : alfo 

 met with at the Cape of Good Hope, changing place with the 

 feafon. In their migrations frequently fly fo high as not to be 

 vifible i their pafflng only being known by the noife they make, 

 being louder than any other bird §. In France they are feen 

 fpring and autumn ; but for the moft part are mere paflengers. 

 We are told that they frequented the marines of Lincoln/hire 

 and Cambridgeshire, in vaft flocks, formerly ; but the cafe is 

 altered, as of late none have been met with, except, a few years 

 fince, a Angle bird fhot near Cambridge. 



We are told that they make the neft in the marfhes, and lay 

 two blueilh eggs. The young birds are thought very good 

 food. They feed on reptiles of all kinds, and in turn on green 

 corn; of which laft they are faid to make fo great havock, as to 

 ruin the farmers, wherever the flocks of thefe depredators 

 alight. 



* Ar8. Zool. — One of the reafons fuppofed to be, the want of frogs, toads, and 



ferpents ; none being found in Kamtfcbatka. — Hiji. of Kamtfch. They have 



however plenty of lizards. 



f Amoen. Acad. iv. p. 589. 



J Id. note (m.) — Wilfagbby met with them at Rome in the winter feafon. 



|| Ruff. Alep. p. 69. 



§ Suppofed to arife from the lingular conformation of the wind-pipe, which, 

 " entering far into the breaft-bone, which has a great cavity to receive it, and 

 being there thrice reflected, goes out again at the fame hole, and fo turns down 

 to the lungs."-— WilU Orn. p. 274. pi. 48. — The above flruclure is not very 

 unlike that of the Parraqua Pbeafant, See vol. ii. part 2. p. 722. of this Work. 



Vol. III. G Le 



