HERON. 75 



Common Heron, fem. Gen. Syn. v. 83. Br. Zool. ii. 173. pi. 61. Jd.fol. 116. Id. 

 Ed. 1812. p. 10. pi. 3. Arct. Zool. ii. No. 343. Bewick, ii. p. 37. Albin, iii. 

 pi. 78. Lewin, 148. Id. xxv. No. 1. — the egg. Wood's Zoogr. i. p. 323. pi. 24. 

 Graves, Br. Om. 



THE male of this species is three feet three inches in length, 

 breadth five feet one inch ; weight three pounds and a half. Bill 

 six inches long, dusky, base beneath yellowish ; round the eye 

 greenish, and bare ; irides yellow ; forehead and crown white ; sides 

 of it over the eye black; all the feathers of the crown long, two in 

 particular sometimes exceeding eight inches, and on the whole 

 forming a most elegant crest; neck white ; the fore part of it marked 

 with a double row of black spots; wing coverts bluish grey ; outer 

 edges of the wings white ; bastard wing and greater quills black ; 

 middle of the back almost bare, covered by the scapulars, which are 

 long, narrow, and loose in texture ; colour grey and white mixed ; 

 the feathers on the lower part of the neck before are much the same, 

 and hang loosely over the breast ; on each side, under the wing, a 

 bed of black feathers ; breast and under parts white ; legs dirty 

 green ; inner edge of the middle claw serrated. 



The female much resembles the male, has little or no crest ; head 

 grey; feathers of the breast short; and the scapulars of not so 

 loose a texture as in the other sex. 



This species is very common in these kingdoms, and except in 

 breeding time, is found dispersed throughout the marshy places, and 

 edges of streams, in which it may be seen standing motionless for 

 hours together, waiting the passing by of a fish ;* at this time the 

 head is crouched between the shoulders, and the body frequently 

 resting on one leg. It also feeds on frogs, and other reptiles, as well 

 as mice; and at times, even on vegetables. In flying, it draws in 



* Are great destroyers of fish. We have seen one of ten inches long, taken out of the 

 stomach ; and 17 small carps have been found in another ; and one kept tame has swallowed 

 50 small roaches and dace, one day with another. — Dr. Lamb once found six perch, weigh- 

 ing one ounce and a half each, in the stomach of a male bird. 



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