■a. 



30 GREAT HERON. 



The eggs are generally four, of an oblong pointed form, larger 

 than those of a hen, and of a light greenish blue without any spots. 

 The young are produced about the middle of May, and remain on 

 the trees until they are full as heavy as the old ones, being ex- 

 tremely fat, before they are able to fly. They breed but once in 

 the season. If disturbed in their breeding place, the old birds fly 

 occasionally over the spot, sometimes honking like a Goose, some- 

 times uttering a coarse hollow grunting noise like that of a hog, 

 but much louder. 



The Great Heron is said to be fat at the full moon, and lean 

 at its decrease; this might be accounted for by the fact of their 

 fishing regularly by moonlight through the greater part of the 

 night, as well as during the day; but the observation is not uni- 

 versal, for at such times I have found some lean as well as others 

 fat. The young are said to be excellent for the table, and even 

 the old birds, when in good order, and properly cooked, are es- 

 teemed by many. 



The principal food of the Great Heron is fish, for which he 

 watches with the most unwearied patience, and seizes them with 

 surprising dexterity. At the edge of the river, pond or sea shore 

 he stands fixed and motionless, sometimes for hours together. 

 But his stroke is quick as thought, and sure as fate to the first 

 luckless fish that approaches within his reach ; these he sometimes 

 beats to death, and always swallows head foremost, such being 

 their uniform position in the stomach. He is also an excellent 

 mouser, and of great service to our meadows in destroying the 

 short-tailed or meadow mouse, so injurious to the banks. He also 

 feeds eagerly on grasshoppers, various winged insects, particularly 

 dragon flies, which he is very expert at striking, and also eats the 

 seeds of that species of nymphae usually called splatter docks, so 

 abundant along our fresh water ponds and rivers. 



The Heron has great powers of wing, flying sometimes very 

 high, and to a great distance ; his neck doubled, his head drawn 



