114 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Patience in cold and stormy seasons. 



swallows it whole, and then returns again to hi 

 fishing. 



Heron-hawking was formerly a favourite di- 

 version in this kingdom ; and a penalty of twenty 

 shillings was incurred by any person taking the 

 eggs of this bird. Its flesh was also in former 

 times much esteemed, being valued at an equal 

 rate with that of the peacock. 



In seasons of fine weather, the heron can al- 

 ways find a plentiful supply, bul in cold and 

 stormy seasons, his prey is no longer within 

 reach ; the fish that in the first case come into 

 the shallow water, then keep in the deep, as they 

 find it to be the warmest situation. Frogs and 

 lizards also seldom venture *from their lurking 

 places ; and the heron is obliged to support him- 

 self upon his long habits of patience, and even 

 to take up with the weeds that grow upon the 

 water. At those times he contracts a consump- 

 tive disposition, which succeeding plenty is not 

 able to remove ; so that the meagre glutton 

 spends his time between want and riot, and feels 

 alternately the extremes of famine and excess. 

 Hence, notwithstanding the care'with which he 

 takes his prey, and the amazing quantity he de- 

 vours, the heron is always lean and emaciated ; 

 and though his crop be usually found full, yet hU 

 flesh is scarce sufficient to cover the bones. 



As- this bird does incredible mischief to ponds 

 wly stocked, Wi Hough by has suggested a 



