524 
HERON. 
form is elegant, though when stripped of his 
feathers he is Indigence itself. The hind part of 
the head is adorned with a loose pendent crest of 
long black feathers waving with the wind ; these 
are the feathers which are so highly prized in the 
East ; the upper part of the neck is pure white ; 
but lower down there is a double row of black 
streaks, succeeded by long, narrow, white, un- 
webbed feathers, falling loosely and elegantly over 
the breast. The bird weighs about three pounds and 
a half, and stands about three feet high ; his long 
legs are of a dirty green colour ; his toes are fur- 
nished with short claws, and the middle one on 
each foot is finely serrated on the inner edge. 
The heron seems to be a very indolent bird, 
and has been seen in the worst weather pensively 
seated on a stake, or on a stone, beside the brink 
of a rivulet, or on a little eminence in a deluged 
meadow, while the other birds seek a cover among 
the foliage. When in pursuit of his prey, he will 
remain for hours, and sometimes days, in the same 
spot ; and so perfectly still as to discover no signs 
of life. If he changes his posture, it is only to ad- 
vance knee deep into the water, where, holding his 
head between his legs, he patiently watches the 
passing frog or fish. But as he entirely depends 
upon chance for his food, he is often obliged to 
bear a long abstinence, and is sometimes said to 
perish of absolute hunger. Mr. Herbert tells us 
that he caught one which was half frozen, and en- 
tirely encrusted with ice. 
