COMMON HERON. 



551 



which not being large enough to contain all the 

 nests, many were placed on the ground. The 

 nest is large and flat, made of sticks, and lined 

 with a few rushes and wool, or feathers. The 

 eggs are three or four in number, and are of a fine 

 sea-green, and about the size of those of a Duck. 

 The young birds are easily tamed, but the old 

 birds soon pine away, as they refuse every kind of 

 nourishment. 



Dr. Heysham has given a singular account of a 

 battle between a colony of Herons and a neigh- 

 bouring one of Rooks : the former having been 

 deprived of their ancient premises by the removal 

 of the trees, made an attempt to form a settlement 

 in the rookery; which was effected after an ob- 

 stinate contest, in which some on both sides lost 

 their lives : but after a second victory of the Herons, 

 in the succeeding year, a truce was agreed upon, 

 and both societies lived in harmony together. A 

 fuller account of this is to be found in Bewick's 

 British Birds, above quoted. 



Heron hawking was formerly a favourite diver- 

 sion in this kingdom, and a penalty of twenty shil- 

 lings was incurred by any person taking the eggs of 

 this bird. Its flesh was also in former times much 

 esteemed, being valued at an equal rate with that 

 of the Peacock. 



