THE HERON. 
145 
on this island from time immemorial. At the period of my friend’s 
visit it contained at least fifty nests. 
This picture (which is the property of Mr. Call well) is remarkable 
for unity of treatment throughout, and for high poetical feeling, in 
both of which Dr. Petrie eminently excels. It is much to be regretted 
that his drawings, so original in their character, are little known out 
of Ireland. To those who have not seen any of them, and are acquainted 
with the productions of the English masters in water-colours, it may 
be observed, that Petrie’s style approximates to that of Copley Pield- 
ing more than to any other ; both artists being remarkable for a depth 
of fine poetical feeling in their treatment of landscape ; and the pro- 
ductions of the former being further characterized by extreme correct- 
ness of detail both as to form and colour. Pemarkable effects, too, 
such as Turner delights to pourtray, have often been represented in — 
indeed have formed the subjects of — Petrie’s admirable drawings. 
The heronries which have been named give no idea whatever of the 
number in Ireland ; being only such as I have happened to hear of and 
note down. 
Already, in a letter from Mr. Knox, some of the circumstances of a 
heronry are detailed ; but two or three casual notes may here be added. 
On the 1 9th of Feb. 1832, I observed that a pair of herons had 
completed their nest in Belvoir Park, where they are less gregarious 
than usual, and build in different parts of the demesne. Although this 
richly-wooded park is bounded on one side by the river Lagan, and 
contains a spacious sheet of water, partly bordered with lofty trees, in 
which the herons chiefly build, they have occasionally selected other 
places remote from any water. In 1833 a group of lofty beech tree s 
half a mile distant from both lake and river was chosen, on the very 
topmost branches of which, five of their nests appeared, and hence were 
completely exposed to ‘‘ the pelting of the pitiless storm.” The 
structure of the nest too (as well remarked by Mr. Poole) “ is so very 
open, that the whole outline of the sitting bird can generally be dis- 
tinguished from the ground.” Birds of such bulk look comical on the 
light topmost spray of the beech, especially on windy days, when it 
is very amusing to observe them balancing themselves on the limber 
twigs. Now, by raising one of their wings, and the next moment both, 
they succeed wonderfully in keeping their position, and remind the 
spectator of the performances of a rope-dancer, in wdiich the arms are 
VOL. II. 
L 
