HERON. 35 



great feast of Archbishop Nevill, Edward IV. there were no less 

 than 204 Cranes, and 400 Heronshaws, among other things ; serving 

 to shew, they were about half as plentiful as the Heron. 



At the present day it is very rarely met with in England ; three 

 or four times only have occurred in my memory, viz. — Once shot near 

 Cambridge; once on the Kentish coast, communicated by the late 

 Mr. Boys; a third near Burham, on the shores of the Med way, in 

 January 1794, mentioned to me by Sir Win. Bishop ; and a fourth, 

 which has its dependence on more slight authority.* A few years 

 since a small flock appeared in harvest, at Tingwall, in Zetland, 

 one of which was shot/j* The structure of the windpipe in this bird 

 is singularly curious, somewhat in the manner of the Wild Swan, 

 but is doubly reflected, as may be seen in the figure referred to in the 

 Philosophical Transactions, as also in those of the Linnaean Society. 



We are told, that they make the nest in the marshes, and lay two 

 bluish eggs; they feed on reptiles of all kinds, and on green corn, 

 of which last they are very fond, and make so great havock, as to 

 ruin the farmers, wherever the flocks of them alight. The young 

 birds are thought very good food. 



In Lord Mountnorris's drawings one, called Koolung, seems to 

 partake of this, and the Japan Crane; general colour of plumage 

 ash-colour, not white, but the ends of the feathers which hang over 

 the tail, are black a good way up the shafts. 



'-* Orn. Diet. S^lp. These-were observed to feed on corn. 



t In the year 1696, in. the month of May, came into Cardiganshire, two strange birds, 

 which, by the description, seemed to be Cranes, Phil. Trans, xxvii. 464. Much information 

 may also be gained concerning the Crane, in Archceol. ii. p. 171. In a curious Memoir, by 

 the Rev. Mr. Pegge, thought to have been in sufficient plenty in 1605 ; as they are merely 

 said to be in season from November to May. See Archceol. xiii. p. 141. &c. It is here 

 mentioned in the Northumberland Household Book, p. 534. that the price of one was six- 

 teen pence; whereas, a Peacock was at no more than twelve pence. 



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