THE HERON 



183 



conclusion, that I penned down the remarks on its 

 habits, after many very close and often repeated 

 inspections of the bird, during its winter residence 

 amongst us. I fear, however, that we must be 

 contented to remain in absolute ignorance of many 

 important parts of its history, until some bold and 

 hardy naturalist shall penetrate into those distant 

 regions of the north, w^here this pretty bird, in 

 company with myriads of other wild fowl, is sup- 

 posed to pass the summer months in undisturbed 

 security. 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE HERON. 



Of all the large wild birds w^hich formerly were 

 so common in this part of Yorkshire, the heron 

 alone can now be seen. The kite, the buzzard, and 

 the raven have been exterminated long ago by our 

 merciless gamekeepers. Ignorant of the real habits 

 of birds, and even bent on slaughter, these men 

 exercise their baneful calling with a severity almost 

 past belief. No sooner have they received from 

 government their shooting license, than out they 

 go with the gun, and, under one pretext or other, 

 they kill almost every bird which comes in their 

 way. Our game laws are at the bottom of all this 

 mischief. 



— " Illis, non saevior ulla 

 Pestis, et ira Deum, Stygiis sese extulit undis. " 

 N 4 



