THE HERON. 
315 
shells thrown up by the sea, so little above high-water mark, 
that in high spring-tides they are frequently swept away. 
When taken young, they may be easily tamed, and we 
have been surprised that they are not more frequently 
introduced into our pleasure-grounds. We remember seeing 
very considerable numbers of them, some years ago, on the 
lawn of the Pavilion at Brighton, collected by order of his 
late Majesty George the Fourth, where they were running 
about with the tameness and familiarity of poultry. Nothing 
could be more ornamental than their smart pieballed glossy 
coats, in contrast with their long, bright, orange beaks and 
legs, and crimson irides. 
Table XXIII. (See page 20.) 
Order 5. Waders. Tribe 2. Cultirostres, ( Cutting Beaks,) 
so called from the Latin words, culter , a knife, and rostrum , a 
beak. 
This tribe contains the Herons, Cranes, &c., known by their 
thick, long, and strong catting bills. The first genus 
consists of the Heron, properly so called, which differs from 
the others chiefly in the middle toe being toothed or pec- 
tinated, and in having their beaks cleft under the eyes. In 
other respects, they in so many points resemble the second 
and third genus — namely, Storks and Cranes, that they may 
be all looked upon as forming one family. With the Heron, 
however, we are most familiar, as he alone stays with us all 
Serrated Claw of the Heron. 
the year round ; and he may be often seen standing like a 
grey statue, motionless on one leg, up to his knees in water, 
in some retired spot, watching for fish, the very picture of 
