GREA T HERON. 447 



When a breeze rises, at first it sighs mournfully through the 

 tops ; but as the gale increases, the tall mastlike cedars wave 

 like fishing poles, and rubbing against each other, produce a 

 variety of singular noises, that, with the help of a little ima- 

 gination, resemble shrieks, groans, growling of bears, wolves, 

 and such like comfortable music. 



On the tops of the tallest of these cedars the herons con- 

 struct their nests, ten or fifteen pair sometimes occupying a 

 particular part of the swamp. The nests are large, formed of 

 sticks, and lined with smaller twigs ; each occupies the top 

 of a single tree. The eggs are generally four, of an oblong 

 pointed form, larger than those of a hen, and of a light 

 greenish blue, without any spots. The young are produced 

 about the middle of May, and remain on the trees until they 

 are full as heavy as the old ones, being extremely fat, before 

 they are able to fly. They breed but once in the season. If 

 disturbed in their breeding place, the old birds fly occasionally 

 over the spot, sometimes honking like a goose, sometimes 

 uttering a coarse, hollow grunting noise like that of a hog, but 

 much louder. 



The great heron is said to be fat at the full moon, and lean 

 at its decrease ; this might be accounted for by the fact of 

 their fishing regularly by moonlight through the greater part 

 of the night as well as during the day ; but the observation 

 is not universal, for at such times I have found some lean, as 

 well as others fat. The young are said to be excellent for the 

 table, and even the old birds, when in good order and pro- 

 perly cooked, are esteemed by many. 



The principal food of the great heron is fish, for which he 

 w r atches with the most unwearied patience, and seizes them 

 with surprising dexterity. At the edge of the river, pond, or 

 sea-shore, he stands fixed and motionless, sometimes for hours 

 together. But his stroke is quick as thought, and sure as fate, 

 to the first luckless fish that approaches within his reach ; 

 these he sometimes beats to death, and always swallows head 

 foremost, such being their uniform position in the stomach. 



