148 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
feiLC, and moi'e fecurely hold its flippety 
prey. 
So numerous is the tribe of herons, that 
BrilTon has enumerated forty-feven different 
forts. Though exceffivcly voracious, they 
are always lean and hungry, weighing no 
more than about three pounds and a half 
each, notwithllanding they meafure three feet 
in length, and five in breadth. Although 
it is moil formidably armed with bill and 
claws, it is fo cowardly as to fly from a fpar- 
row-hawk. Fifli and frogs are its chief food; 
but it cannot enchire a long abftinence. Its 
voracity is fuch, that Willoughby fays, one 
of them will deftroy 15,000 carp in fix 
months. It lives among pools and marflies, 
where it v'^ades after its prey ; and builds in 
the highefl; trees, or on cliffs hanging over 
the fea. 
The flefli of this bird, which is now 
thought difgufling, was formerly much cf- 
tcemed. What an inftance is this of the ca- 
pricious taffe of man! 
Keyflcr fays, that the heron very frequent- 
ly lives to the age of fixty years. 
rhe EGRET, or GREAT WHITE 
HERO N. 
H E length of this bird, from the bill to 
the claws, is four feet and an half, and to 
the 
