Vertebrate Zoology in Yorkshire. 
9 
than unmated birds of the same species. Some, such as the Starling, 
are known to mimic the songs of other species. Then again, is there 
evidence that young birds find it necessary to practise before they become 
song perfect ? 
Life of the Heron. 
An illustrated paper was then read by Mr. H. J. Wagstaff, on ‘ The 
Home-life of the Heron as seen through eight Breeding Seasons.’ The 
lecturer stated that the photographs had been taken and the observations 
made in a very ancient and carefully preserved Heronry, on an island 
site in one of the Midland Counties. The nests, particularly the older 
ones, were of great size, sometimes as much as nine feet deep, and built 
of sticks up to six feet in length. In a second Heronry near by, the 
lining was of smaller twigs and of dried grass. The trees were well 
grown and the construction of ‘ hides ’ at a height of about 85 feet pre- 
sented unusual difficulties. The framework was of timber secured by 
galvanised wire and covered with a water-proof fabric. 
The presence of the birds in the tree tops indicated the selected sites 
of future nests and a certain ceremonial accompanied the actual building 
of the nests in which both birds participated. Certain peculiar notes 
were uttered by the male on presenting a stick to the female and she, 
before receiving it, threw back her head and touched her tail with the 
tip of her beak. Some nests were built very rapidly, often with stolen 
material. 
The first egg was laid soon after the completion of the nest and the 
full complement varied from three to five. Both birds took turns at 
incubation but the female sat for longer periods, until after 26 to 28 
days, the young were hatched. The eggs were frequently inspected 
at this stage and the pieces of egg shell were carefully removed. 
When disturbed, the parents frequently left the nest for seven or 
eight hours and were unusually timid on returning. It frequently 
happened that the young were not fed for very long periods and it ap- 
peared certain that food was brought during the hours of darkness. It 
was, therefore, decided to improve the ‘ hide ’ so that it would be possible 
to remain in it for the entire week-end without the observer suffering 
unduly from the cold winds which were much in evidence in such exposed 
situations during the early months of the year. 
When the young were 10 to 14 days old, they were not brooded so 
much and the adults disgorged half -digested food into the bottom of the 
nests when a scramble took place ; the food consisted of rats, mice, moles, 
lizards, fish, beetles, and young birds. At the age of three weeks, the 
young were excitable and noisy and the parents, on landing at the side 
of the nests, commenced to rock themselves backwards and forwards until 
a thickening of the neck indicated that food was about to be disgorged 
into the nest. The young then stretched up and seized the beak of the 
adult, dragging the head down into the nest. Feeding took place through 
the night and the whole family rested at dawn. 
Four or five disgorgings might be made at one visit to the nest and 
the adult did not concern itself in the least with the distribution of the 
food. On one occasion, a carp of about two lbs. weight was disgorged 
and the young struggled for possession until they were all too exhausted 
to continue. Not infrequently a tug-of-war took place over the body of 
of a rat or rabbit. After feeding, the fish scales were removed from the 
beak by means of the comb on the middle toe. 
As the young grew older they grasped the bottom of the nest and 
indulged in wing exercises ; at other times they amused themselves by 
dexterously catching the flies that invaded the nest. Later still, they 
climbed out on the branches to practice wing exercises, jumping from 
branch to branch as their confidence increased. 
1933 Jan. 1 
A2 
