The Heron 



( Ardea cinerea ) LlNN^uS. 



MALE, FEMALE, NEST, YOUNG, AND BROKEN EGG. 



WE are deeply indebted to His Grace the Duke oe Westminster, K.G., 

 for this exceedingly interesting group of birds. They were taken in 

 1888 from the Heronry at Eaton Hall, which is the largest in Cheshire or 

 North Wales, and fortunately is carefully preserved. 



The nest, composed of large sticks and lined with smaller ones and stems 

 of various plants, is in the topmost branch of a willow tree, and was between 

 40 and 50 feet from the ground. It contains its rightful occupants, e.g., the four 

 young ones that were hatched in it. They are of different sizes, however, which 

 is remarkable ; but as they were taken at the same time they must have been 

 hatched at different periods. [See also " Proceedings of the Chester Society of Natural 

 Science'' Part IV., p. 22j~\. Their attitudes are very grotesque, but they are 

 faithfully preserved ; all being carefully modelled from life. 



The upper specimen is the female ; it has an unusually long crest, and 

 bears a greater similarity to the male than is usually the case. 



