142 ARDEID.E. 



sight enables it generally to keep out of danger. It is 

 remarkable how alarmed Herons are during storms of thunder 

 and lightning, starting at every flash, and tumbling about as 

 if winged. During rainy weather these birds appear very 

 dejected, and sit in the most drooping attitudes imaginable : 

 they appear to suffer also from frost and cold. 



The food of the Heron consists chiefly of fish and reptiles ; 

 and the manner in which it obtains the former is by carefully 

 wading in shallow water with slow and perfectly noiseless 

 steps, the head laid on its back, or bent forwards in a hori- 

 zontal line, ready to dart its beak with the most incredible 

 precision at some fish that has come within its reach ; and it 

 is a very rare occurrence that the Heron misses its mark : it 

 is observable that every fish is swallowed head foremost. 

 Besides fish, the Heron feeds also on young water-fowl, small 

 birds, young chickens, mice, &c. 



In consequence of the diversity of food suitable to the 

 Heron's taste, it is not difficult to keep one of this species in 

 confinement ; but the bird is neither useful nor engaging, and 

 no one but a naturalist thinks of making the attempt of 

 taming an old bird, or bringing up a young one. 



There are so many heronries in different parts of Britain, 

 that the fact of their breeding in this country is sufficiently 

 established : the localities chosen for nidification are the 

 strong top branches of lofty trees, where many nests are gene- 

 rally found in a small compass, namely, spreading over a few 

 trees. It is remarkable that these shy birds are so very 

 tenacious of their accustomed breeding-places, that it is a 

 matter of great difficulty to make them forsake a spot where 

 they have once taken possession. It is necessary that water 

 well stocked Avith fish should be near them, or at least within 

 reach of the heronry, although there are instances of the 

 Heron building at the distance of several miles from any river 

 or lake ; under such circumstances, young broods of domestic 



