BRITISH BIRDS. 
41 
height, to which the eye is directed by its harlh 
cry, uttered from time to time while on the wing. 
In flying it draws the head between the flioul- 
ders, and the legs fliretched out feem, like the 
longer tails of fome birds, to ferve the office of 
a rudder. The motion of their wings is heavy and 
flagging, and yet they get forward at a greater rate 
than would be imagined. 
In England Herons were formerly ranked among 
the royal game, and protected as fuch by the laws ; 
and whoever deflroyed their eggs was liable to a 
penalty of twenty fliillings for each offence. He- 
ron hawking was at that time a favourite diverfion 
among the nobility and gentry of the kingdom, at 
whofe tables this bird was a favourite diffi, and 
was as much efteemed as pheafants and peacocks. 
