PEALE’S EGRET HERON. 
105 
The Herons properly so called, forming our submenus Jlrdea, of 
which the group Egretta is a subdivision, have the bill much 
longer than the head, at base as broad, or even broader than high, 
and quite straight. Their neck is very long, slender, and orna¬ 
mented beneath with slender, elongated, pendent plumes : their 
flanks are thin, their legs very long, and have an extensive naked 
space above the heel. 
They are more diurnal than nocturnal in their habits, are the 
tallest of the genus, and for the most part feed on fishes. There 
is scarcely a fish, however large, that a Heron will not strike at 
and wound, even if unable to carry it off. They both seize them 
in shallow water by darting their bill, or in deep water by 
plunging it under as they pass on the wing: they are therefore 
extremely injurious to fish-ponds, which they devastate to an 
incredible extent, and consume so great a quantity that a single 
Heron will destroy in a year several thousand large fishes, without 
taking into account the small fry which are their chief depend¬ 
ence. Even when gorged with prey, these greedy birds will sit 
meditating further mischief, with their long necks sunk between 
their shoulders, and their heads turned to one side, intently eyeing 
the pool; and their extraordinary power of digestion soon enables 
them to recommence their task. But like other lean and hungry 
gluttons, the Heron is never satisfied, his food avails him not, 
and he is generally an emaciated mass of skin and bones. They 
do not hide themselves in grassy places, nor attempt to escape 
danger by retreating to them, but on the contrary are careful to 
seek their prey where the weeds are not too high to prevent them 
from observing the approach of an enemy, to escape whom flight 
is their only resource. Highly social in their disposition, they 
travel, fish, and keep together in parties, and build on trees or 
hanging cliffs, hundreds in company, in retired haunts, where 
they may expect to enjoy perfect quiet and security. Several of 
VOL. iv.— n d 
