46 H E R O N. 



membrane, like a bladder, fprinkled very thinly with fhort down, 

 riling or falling as the animal moves the beak, and always ap- 

 pearing inflated. 



Thefe birds are met with in companies; and when feen at a 

 diftance, near the mouths of rivers, coming towards an obferver, 

 which they do with the wings extended, may well be taken for 

 canoes, upon the furface of a fmooth fea : when on the fand 

 banks, for men and women picking up fhell-fifh or other things on 

 the beach. 



One of thefe, a young bird, about five feet in height, was 

 brought up tame, and prefented to the Chief of the Bananas, 

 where Mr. Smeathman lived ; and being accuftomed to be fed in 

 the great hall, foon became familiar ; duly attending that place 

 at dinner-time/placing itfelf behind its matter's chair, frequently 

 before any of the guefts entered. The fervants were obliged to 

 watch it narrowly, and to defend the provifions vi'ixh. /witches in 

 their hands; but, notwithstanding this, it would frequently 

 fnatch off fomewhat or other, and was known once to have pur- 

 loined a whole boiled fowl, which it fwallowed in an inftant. Its 

 courage is not equal to its voracity ; for a child of eight or ten 

 years old foon puts it to flight with a /witch, though at firft it 

 feems to ftand upon its defence, by threatening with its enor- 

 mous bill, widely extended, and crying out with a loud hoarfe 

 voice, like a bear or tiger. It is an enemy to fmall quadrupeds, 

 as well as birds and reptiles, and deftroys fowls and chickens, 

 though it dare not attack a hen with her young openly : it preys 

 alfo on rats, young kittens, and the like ; and has been known to 

 fwallow a cat whole : a bone of zflrin of beef being broken afun- 

 der, ferves it but for two morfels. 



The 



