THE SILENT FISIIfiR. 
165 
Many passages might we quote from the poets, and many 
interesting facts relate, in reference to this singular bird ; 
but we have already given to it a larger portion of our space 
than is due. One poetical picture we must include, and 
that is from Bishop Mant's ' British Months' : — 
O'er yonder lake the while, 
What bird about that wooded isle 
With pendant feet, and pinions slow, 
Is seen his ponderous length to row ? 
'T is the tall Heron's awkward flight, 
His crest of black, and neck of white, 
Far sunk his grey, blue wings between, 
And giant legs of murky green. 
His tribe is seaward, far away ; 
And he remains, as peasants say, 
About their summer haunts to dwell, 
On guard, a faithful sentinel : 
Till spring again with genial smile 
Eecall them to their native isle. 
On their lov'd oak's wide-spreading crown 
Aloft to build their close-set town. 
Their brood to hatch, their younglings rear, 
Then monished hence as now to steer 
Far off their migratory way. 
For richer floods and ampler prey. 
So without words, by secret sign, 
Speaks to their sense the voice divine ! 
The Black-billed Egret {Egretta nigrirostris). — The 
Yellow-billed White Egret {E, alba), sometimes called 
the Great White Heron. — The Little White Egret (E. 
garzettd). — The Buff-backed Egret {E. riissata). 
The birds here grouped together are all the British 
members known of the fourth genus of the Heron family. 
Being but rare and occasional visitants to these islands, a 
very short account of them will suffice. Let us premise, 
that the Egrets differ from the true Herons chiefly in 
being of a more slender form, and in having the neck and 
legs greatly elongated. The first of the above-named 
birds is superior in size to the common Heron, being 
about forty-four inches in length : in form it is a much 
more graceful and elegant bird; the snowy plumage is 
relieved by the black bill and flesh-coloured feet. But a 
