By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



55 



ARDEIDiE (The Herons). 

 Though wholly incapable of swimming, the various species which 

 compose this large family may certainly be ranked as water-birds, 

 so entirely are their haunts and habits aquatic. Conspicuous for 

 the excessive length of their legs, and for their long and sharp- 

 pointed beaks, with which they can transfix their prey, or seize 

 it in shallow water, the various members of this truly elegant 

 family roam wherever marsh, lake, river or brook offer a suitable 

 fishing ground : and there they may be seen standing motionless 

 in shallow water, the very emblems of patience, carefully watching 

 till the prey they seek comes within reach of their powerful beak, 

 which they dart with unerring precision on the hapless victim. 

 Many of the true Herons are adorned with elongated flowing 

 plumes, which spring from the back of the head, the neck, and the 

 back : the occipital crest is composed of soft loose pendant silky 

 feathers ; and the dorsal plumes have long hair-like webs or barbs, 

 all of w 7 hich give an air of elegance and finish to these gracefully 

 formed birds. Notwithstanding the immense length of their wings 

 their flight is heavy ; and as they flap slowly overhead to and 

 from their hunting grounds, their progress seems slow, and the 

 exertion laborious. And yet on occasion, or when prompted by 

 fear, they can show great speed : but the race seems somewhat 

 indolent and disinclined for unnecessary exertion. During their 

 progress on the wing, their neck is bent back, so that the head 

 rests upon the shoulders ; and the long legs are extended behind 

 as a counterpoise to preserve the balance of the body : thus the 

 Herons present a peculiar appearance in their flight, and may 

 readily be distinguished at a great distance. There is a popular 

 delusion still prevalent amongst the ignorant (however ridiculous 

 it may seem) that the Herons when sitting on their nests, project 

 their legs through holes formed for that purpose at the bottom : 

 now not to mention the very awkward and uncomfortable, not to 

 say impossible position which the poor bird would thus be con- 

 demned to assume, I will merely point out that the thighs of the 

 heron being of a length exactly proportioned to that of the legs, 

 the bending of the knee causes the leg to recede sufficiently 



