( 73 ) 

 l^he common Heron. 



Numb. LXXVIII. 



ITS Bill was five Inches long, flrongand ftreight, from 

 a thick Bafe gently leflening into a iharp Point, of a 

 yellowifh Colour inclining to green, the Edges ferate for 

 the better holding of llippery Fifties 5 the Mouth gapes 

 wide, the Tongue is ftiarp and long, but not hard; the 

 top of the Head, Neck, Back and upper fide of the Wings 

 are of a dufky afli Colour, moft of the (capular Feathers 

 have white tips, excepting a long black on the fcapular part 

 of the Wings : The prime or Quill-Feathers of the Wings 

 are black, their extreme Edges vv^hite : The forefide of the 

 Neck, Breaft and upper part of the Belly are fprinkled 

 with black, the lower part of the Belly and Thighs are white, 

 with a Caft of yellowiih red. 



The Tail is feven Inches long, made up of twelve Fea- 

 thers of an afh Colour j the Legs are long and bare above 

 Knee, of a fordid green; the Toes are long butjoyned to- 

 gether by a Ihort Membrane, becaufe it muft needs becon- 

 verfant about Waters. Thefe Birds build on high Trees, 

 and for the moft part many together, under which the Own- 

 ers find a great many Fifti, which they let 



I'he 



