78 HERON. 



Peacock* in former times, is no longer valued. — The crests of the 

 male bird are used as ornaments, and bear a considerable price, not 

 only here, but every where throughout the east. Chardin mentions 

 that the Persians catch the Heron, and after depriving it of the long 

 feathers, suffer it to depart, f In another place, we are told, that 

 these feathers form a part of the Persian crown, or bonnet.^ 



The Common Heron is probably the one mentioned by Azara ; 

 but if not, it resembles it very nearly : the South American one is 

 six inches longer than ours, and eight inches more in extent of wing, 

 thought to be the largest sort found in the BayLagunes of Paraguay, 

 where they are chiefly met with, but even there not common ; said 

 to make the nest on trees, and to have a cry somewhat like gaaa. 



38— ASH-COLOURED HERON. 



Ardea cana, Ind. Orn. ii. 693. Gm. Lin. i. 643. 



Ash-coloured Heron, Gen. Syn. v. 87. Arct. Zool. ii. No. 353. 



LENGTH two feet one inch. Bill strong, black; cheeks and 

 chin whitish ; neck pale, cinereous brown, streaked before with 

 white ; back, wings, and tail, cinereous, clouded round each feather 

 with dusky ; feathers on the sides of the back long, and broad, 

 hanging over the end of the wing; belly white; legs yellowish. 



Inhabits New York ; arrives in May ; breeds, and departs in 

 October ; suspected by Mr. Abbot, to be a young bird of the Com- 

 mon Species. 



* " At principal Feasts — Item, it is thought in likewyze that Hearonsewys be bought 

 " for my Lordes own mees ; so that they be at xiid. a pece." We likewise here see the 

 value, by the compariison: — A Goose, selling for 3d. or4d. at most ; Partridges, 2d. a 

 piece ; Woodcocks, Id. or l^d. ; Snipes, three for a penny ; also that the Herons, Bytters, 

 Pacocks, Fesaunts, and Curlews, were all equal in value. — North. Hous. Book. p. 104. 



f Travels, p. 82. 



J Not only the real feathers of the Heron, but tufts of diamonds, and other precious 

 stones, set in the shape of Heron's feathers, adorn the Dhul-bandt of the Persian Monarch, 

 and some of these so valuable, as to be worth more than twenty thousand pounds sterling.— 

 Coronat. of Solyman, iii. p. 40. 41. 



