40 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
The Heron is defcribed by BufFon as exhibiting 
the picture of wretchednefs, anxiety, and indigence^, 
condemned to ftruggle perpetually with mifery and 
want, and fickened by the reftlefs cravings of a 
familhed appetite, However faithful this in» 
genious naturaliil may have been in pourtraying 
the appearance of the Heron, yet others are not in-” 
dined to adopt his fentiments in defcribing its habits 
and manners, or to agree with him in opinion that 
it is one of the mofl wretched of animated beings • 
It is probable that it fuffers no more than other 
birds, many fpecies of which employ equal atten- 
tion in looking for their prey, and it is not un« 
likely that the Heron derives pleafure from it in- 
{lead of pain* This bird, however, is of a melan-* 
choly deportment, a filent and patient creature; and 
will, in the moft fevere weather, hand motionlefs a 
long time in the water, fixed to a fpot, in appear- 
ance like the flump or root of a tree, waiting for its 
prey, which confifts of frogs, water-newts, eels, and 
other kinds of fifh ; and it is alfo faid that it will 
devour field-mice* 
The Heron traverfes the country to a great dif* 
tance in quell of fome convenient or favourite fifh- 
ing fpot, and in its aerial journies foars to a great 
Rooks have relinquiflied pofleffion of that part of the grove which 
the Herons occupy ; the Herons confine themfelves to thofc 
trees they firft feized upon, and the two fpecies live together in 
as much harmony as they did before their quarrel.’’ Heyfiam^ 
