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COMMON IIEUON. 
pose.* The Heron, during the greater part of the 
year, is a wading or terrestrial bird, and here all 
his motions and attitudes are easy and graceful. 
Whether sitting at rest on some stump, or large 
stone at the edge of the stream, or stalking erectly 
by the side of the water, and surveying it for his 
active prey; or with outstretched neck, and de- 
pressed crest, the whole aspect displaying anxiety, 
before the fatal stroke is made, he appears uncon- 
strained. But when these habits are exchanged for 
the forest, the lengthened legs and ample wings 
are used without freedom, and they appear to be 
accommodating themselves to a temporary sojourn, 
among the branches and foliage proper to another 
great tribe of birds. Nevertheless, a heronry is a 
much to be coveted ornament among the furnish- 
ings of an extensive park, and the whole process 
of incubation is most interesting to witness. The 
localities selected generally abound in old wood, 
and they are very frequently near some mansion, 
where there is a constant thoroughfare, which can 
only be accounted for from the greater proportion 
of old timber to be found in such situations, for a 
bird naturally so shy would scarcely, were choice 
allowed, select one so public. We, at the same 
time, know of a few breeding stations in most 
retired places, — a wild and pastoral glen, or the 
* “ And come affirm, that any trait anointed with the 
marrow of the thigh-bone of an Heron, is a great temptation 
to any fish. The scent from his legs was considered attracting 
to them, when he waded in the water.” 
