216 On (he Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



Earl of Radnor. The nests are built on the tops of the tallest beech 

 trees, from one of which my gardening boy who was then with me 

 extracted, at the risk of his neck, an egg for my collection. When 

 he reached the summit he found in the nest three half-grown 

 fledglings and one addled egg, which answered my purpose as well 

 as any other. I have counted as many as thirty-three congregated 

 in our water-meadows at one time, which I think must have com- 

 prised nearly the whole of the heronry. On one occasion I surprised 

 " J ack " vigorously pecking at some prey in one of our smaller 

 " drawings/'' and on frightening him up I found he had just killed 

 a nice eel of more than lib. weight, which I took home for my 

 dinner instead of his. I have been often startled, on returning 

 from Duck -shooting in the gloaming, by the unearthly and weird 

 noise they make as you suddenly surprise them from some favorite 

 fishing-ground. A kind of suffocated screech emanates from their 

 throat, as though they were in the act of strangulation, emitted 

 hastily and spasmodically, before, as it were, they can find the full 

 play of their lungs ; the sound appearing to struggle for exit from 

 their gullet between the mass of undigested fish they have cleverly 

 stowed away. It is most amusing sometimes to watch the tactics 

 of a pair of Crows, which will most perseveringly mob some un- 

 fortunate Heron as it rises gorged from the side of the water. One 

 will dart upon it from above, the other from beneath, making it twist 

 and twirl and utter the most pitiful cries for help ; pursuing it 

 relentlessly with the apparent purpose of making it disgorge some 

 of its prey, that they may descend and feed upon it at their leisure. 

 I have often watched their proceedings, reminding one of some 

 similar scene, often enacted in former days at school, where two 

 bullies will pitch into some hulking lout, who has never learnt, or 

 if so, has not the pluck to use, the noble and necessary art of self- 

 defence. The plumage of the adult bird is very pleasing and 

 graceful, the head and back being adorned with long feathery 

 plumes, while long black feathers depend from the head, nearly 

 reaching the back as it stands in an erect posture, rendering it very 

 unlike the uniform grey of the immature bird of the year. 



Ardea Ralloides. " Squacco Heron. " A rare and occasional 



