(in fome birds we have noticed fcveral of thefe feathers that 

 reach quite to the back) ; on the under- fide of the neck, the 

 feathers are of the fame loofe flowing kind, and extend quite 

 over the bread: , there are alfo a few fcattered over the back ; 

 legs long, the hinder claw much larger and flronger than the 

 others ; colours in the female rather duller, the feathers 

 forming the creft are wanting, and thofe on the neck are not 

 fo long or flowing. 



Herons generally build in high trees, the neft is compofed 

 of flicks lined with feathers, wool, dry grafs, and other foft 

 materials ; the eggs are of the fize, but of a greener hue than 

 thofe of the duck ; it was formerly confidcred as game, and 

 perfons deflroying their eggs were liable to a penalty of twenty 

 fhillings. In the breeding feafon, they congregate in the 

 manner of rooks, and form large focieties ; Heronries, though 

 by no means numerous, are to be met with in feveral of our 

 northern counties, one in particular may be familiar to perfons 

 in the habit of travelling the high North road, where the trees 

 in which many of the nefts are placed, and under which the 

 coaches pafs daily, nearly crofs the road. They are very tena- 

 cious of their breeding-places, and make great refiftance to 

 any kind of intrufion ; in thefe focieties mould any one be 

 found pilfering materials from the neft. of another, the offender 

 expofes itfelf to fevere correction, not unfrequently to the 

 lofs of life, and to the almoft certain demolition of whatever 

 it may have collected towards its own nenf ; notwithstanding 

 this tenacioufnefs with regard to themfelves, they are lefs 

 ceremonious in intruding on the territories of others ; as fhould 

 they by any adverfe circumftance be expelled or deprived of 

 their ancient refidences, they will take pofTefhon of any neigh- 

 bouring 



