THE HERON. 
183 
the bird running over the moors, but were unable to overtake 
it. 
Sex, male. 
Bill, light green horn-colour, slightly darker about the middle 
of both mandibles ; base of upper and a large portion of base 
of under mandibles brownish pink. 
Iris, brownish orange, darker towards the pupil. 
Feet, tarsi, and bare parts of tibia black, tinged with olive 
green ; the under surface or the feet paler ; claws black. 
Bare parts about the forehead and eyes, dull pale crimson. 
The plumage is very similar to that of the last specimen, but 
less clouded with brown. In this individual also large patches 
on the feathers beneath the wings are covered with the ova of 
parasites. 
Although this specimen was slightly larger than the first, 
I believe it was a younger bird. 
On my mentioning the capture of the Crane to those Shet- 
landers who have heard of such a bird, they at once assert that 
they have often both seen and shot it, but it has always proved 
in the end that, like many others, they have confounded it with 
the Heron. 
III. ardeida:. 
THE HERON. 
Ardea cinerea. 
HAIGRIE. 
In Thomas Edmonston’s catalogue the Heron is mentioned 
as “ resident, and not rare.” This may have been a correct 
statement thirty years ago, but at the present time it would be 
better to say that the species is numerous from autumn to 
spring, very rarely remaining to breed. It leaves us much sooner 
in spring than any other winter visitor, being, as is well known, 
a very early breeder. Flocks, sometimes numlxiring as many 
