THE HERON. 115 



IV)"i-*.-d plan tor taking him. 



method for taking him. f( Having found his 

 haunt, get three or four small roach or dace, and 

 having provided a strong hook with a wire to it, 

 this is drawn just within side the shin of the fish, 

 beginning without side the gills, and running it 

 to the tail, by which the fish will not be killed, 

 but continue for five or six days alive. Then 

 having a strong line made or silk and wire, about 

 two yards and a half long, it is tied to a stone at 

 one end., the fish with the hook being suffered 

 to swim about at the other. This being properly 

 disposed in shallow water, the heron will seize 

 upon the fish to its own destruction. From this 

 method we may learn that the fish must be alive, 

 otherwise the heron will not touch them, and 

 that this bird, as well as all those that feed upon 

 fish, must he its own caterer; for they will not 

 prey upon such as die naturally, or are killed by 

 others before them." 



Though this bird live chiefly among pools and 

 marshes, yet its nest is built on the tops of the 

 highest trees, and sometimes on cliffs hanging 

 over the sea. Sometimes as many as eighty 

 have been in one tree. They are never in flocks 

 when they fish, committing their depredations 

 in solitude and silence; but in making their 

 nests they love each other's society ; and they are 

 seen, like rooks, building in company with flocks 

 of their kind. Their nests are made of sticks, 

 and lined with wool ; and the female lays four or 

 five eggs of a pale green colour. The observable 

 p 2 



