THE HETION. 119 



Blue heron Bird mentioned by Leo. 



and the extreme feathers six or seven inchet 

 long. 



The blue heron is about the size of the com- 

 mon one, is supposed to weigh upwards of three 

 pounds, and is about a yard from the tip of the 

 bill to the end of the toes ; the bill is in size and 

 colour, much the same as the former, only the 

 upper part is a little hooked at the point. It has 

 a fine crest of feathers on the top of the head, 

 which appears of a bluish sky colour; the side 

 of the head from the bill and under part of the 

 eyes are white, the covert and scapular feathers 

 of the wings are of a pale blue, the quill-feathers 

 black, with their outmost edges blue; the rest of 

 the body is of a bluish sort of lead colour, it has 

 yellowish feet, with very long toes, the middle 

 claw cerated. This is a curious and very uncom- 

 mon bird. 



John Leo. in his African history, gives an ac- 

 count of a fowl which, by his description, very 

 much resembles the heron', only its bill, neck, 

 and legs are somewhat shorter ; in flying up, he 

 says, it mounts out of sight, but descends with a 

 jirk when it spies a dead carcase; it lives very 

 long: nay, many of this kind live till age be- 

 reaves them of all their feathers, upon which they 

 return to their nest, and are nourished by the, 

 younger birds. They nestle upon high rocks, 

 and the tops of unfrequented mountains, espe- 

 cially upon mount Atlas, where those who arc 

 acquainted with such places come and take thciu. 



