Chirps and 
Chatter. 
(217) 
THE BIRD WORLD. 
Amongst the Herons. 
A most interesting discussion has of 
late been taking place in The Scotsman , 
on the habits of the Heron. One 
writer, who evidently has studied this 
noble bird very extensively, says :—“ I 
have carefully watched a Heronry here 
for several years, which, I believe, is 
one of the largest in Scotland. This 
year thirteen pairs of Herons built 
their nests. In 1906 there were 
twenty-four pairs of Herons. The 
number of nests vary very much, owing 
to the severe or mild winter. If it is a 
hard winter, a great many pine off and 
die for want of food. 
How they Build. 
The Herons build here on beech trees 
about 90 ft. high, so they are pretty 
safe from the egg collectors. The 
Herons nest very early in spring. Should 
it be fine weather, they begin to pair 
about the first week in February. And 
it is very interesting to watch them 
building and repairing their old nests. 
Some of the nests are of a very large 
size, being built upon year after year. 
Two from Four. 
“ They lay from four to five eggs, and 
out of that number of eggs the old birds 
have very good luck if they rear on an 
average two young Herons. I have 
occasionally seen a nest of three young 
Herons, but it is seldom that that 
number leave the nest alive. A visit to 
the bottom of the trees where the nests 
are located reveals a considerable 
number of young Herons lying dead, 
having been choked with fish bones, 
and afterwards pitched over the nest 
by the parent bird. I have watched 
Herons feeding in Rule Water many a 
time and when fishing the walks up¬ 
stream, and woe betide the unlucky 
trout that comes within his reach. From 
what I have observed when Herons are 
feeding, trout is their favourite food. 
And, besides, what is more convincing, 
I have found many a dead trout lying 
on the ground below their nests. But so 
far I never have found a dead eel. 
Fond of Chickens. 
“ I have heard of Herons devouring 
young Chickens, and on a neigh¬ 
bouring estate here I know a 
keeper who shot a Heron after 
it had swallowed a nice lot of 
young Pheasants from a coop on the 
rearing field. They are also fond of 
frog spawn, and I must say the Heron 
is an adept at cleaning up young 
salmon from the bed. They will feed 
on mice, frogs, eels, perch, etc., or, in 
fact, anything that will conveniently go 
over the gullet. Before concluding, I 
would like to say a word on behalf of 
gamekeepers. It is most amusing to see 
letters written by some of your corre¬ 
spondents that, should any particular 
bird be destroyed, oh! it is that blood¬ 
thirsty keeper and his gun that has done 
the deed. I don’t blame the keepers 
for one moment. They love to observe 
Nature in its true form, and would 
disdain to wantonly shoot a poor Heron. 
But a far greater destruction on our 
inland birds is wrought by pot-hunters 
from towns along our shores on a 
winter’s day, whom I have seen deliber¬ 
ately shooting at every bird that should 
happen to come within or out of reach 
of their gun. I say, spare the Heron. 
He is a fine specimen of our inland bird, 
and, besides, he is a beautiful ornament 
to our lakes and streams.” 
Birds of the Garden. 
It would be a pleasant task to draw 
up a full list of the birds which in twelve 
months pass through or stay in one’s 
garden. The number of them, even in 
a garden of an acre or less, and without 
a stream trickling through it, when 
added up may surprise us. The summer 
warblers are merely casual passers 
through the small garden, though often 
in passing through, they will stop two, 
even three, days—thanks to green fly. 
In spring we look for the Blackcap, in 
the apple blossom, very likely—a sight, 
once seen, not soon forgotten—or the 
Pettychaps in the currant bushes. 
But they are only travellers on their 
way to their summer nesting spots in 
copse and clematis lane. Another class 
B 
