Order HERODIONES 



Family ARDEID^. 



THE COMMON HERON. 

 Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus). 

 Plate 40. 



The Common Heron is resident and widely distributed in the British Islands, 

 being also found over the greater part of Europe, as well as in Africa, Asia, and 

 Madagascar. 



It breeds in colonies, and the nests, composed of sticks, with a lining of finer 

 twigs and roots, are usually placed in tall trees or on cliffs, but are sometimes 

 built on the ground. 



These heronries, to which the birds return very early in the season, are often 

 used for many years in succession. The three or four eggs are greenish-blue, 

 showing a chalky surface. 



The food, for the most part obtained at night, consists of various fish, reptiles, 

 and small mammals. 



The bird is extremely shy and wary in its habits ; its usual mode of fishing is 

 to stand immovable in some shallow until its unsuspecting prey comes within 

 reach, when with a sudden stroke of the long bill the fish is caught between the 

 mandibles and swallowed. 



The cry is loud and harsh, and may often be heard as the birds fly to their 

 feeding grounds in the evening. 



The female is rather smaller and duller in colour than the male. 



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