106 THE NIGHT-HERON. 
and when they migrate, which they do in the 
night, the route they take is well known by 
the "qua," ''qua," uttered at regular inter- 
vals. 
Some of the trees, in the cedar swamps, have 
been occupied every spring by the herons from 
time immemorial. Should any of them be 
cut down, the birds merely remove to another 
quarter of the swamp ; but it has happened, 
that, when very much teased with enemies, the 
whole body of herons have taken to flight, and 
disappeared, no one knew where. 
The wings of the heron are very strong ; and 
he can fly to a great height, and to a great dis- 
tance. Then, his long neck is doubled, and his 
head drawn in, while his legs are stretched out 
in a straight line behind him, and serve like 
a rudder to steer his course. 
When he is angry, he sets up his crest; which 
consists of three long narrow feathers, that 
grow from the back part of the head. These 
feathers can be pulled from together; but if the 
bird shakes his plumage, they fit into each 
other and look like one. He does not get this 
crest, nor indeed the rest of his plumage com- 
plete, until he is three years old. 
