126 
COMMON HERON. 
eaten, and Dr. Neil has recorded their qualities 
as rat killers. We have also known several instan- 
ces of this propensity in Herons kept in a garden, 
and where also it was nearly impossible to preserve 
any smaller tame birds in company. In a state 
of nature, the prey seems generally to be trans- 
fixed by a dart or blow of the bill. The great 
proportion of trouts, eels, &c., which we have 
observed as supplied to the young, being all pierced 
through as if struck in the manner we have stated. 
The Heron is generally, though nowhere very 
abundantly, distributed over Europe ; in Britain, 
extending to Orkney and Shetland, where they 
are said to be plentiful. In those islands we have 
no notice of any breeding places, and it would be 
interesting to know how they are situate, or if the 
birds migrate to the mainland for the purpose of 
incubation. In tho very north of Europe the Heron 
is migratory. Its extra European range is con- 
fined to the Old World, Northern Africa, and 
Madeira, India,* Java,f perhaps some others of the 
eastern islands, and Japan. J In the New World, 
we have it represented by the A. herodias, a large 
species resembling it in colours and habits. 
The entire length of an adult bird will exceed 
three feet, of which the bill to the rictus will 
measure six inches and a-half. The back, scapu- 
lars, and tail, are pale blackish-grey, tinted some- 
times with brown, and, in the breeding season, 
having the ends of the dorsal feathers length- 
* YarrelL t Horsfield. t Temuiinck. 
