348 
BIRD-LIFE. 
the nests of the other two species, with whom they soon 
became on friendly terms. They did not, however, 
increase in such numbers as did the other Herons, 
although they hatched out more eggs. On account of the 
keepers’ great hankering after their plumes, so valued in 
Hungary, they were subject to such persecution that 
even now they are not numerous, though they appear to 
be less so than they really are, by reason of the old birds 
taking wing before one can approach, and delaying their 
return to the nest. The year 1827 was a disastrous one 
for the Heron tribe, owing to the arrival of the Cormorants, 
who soon occupied the tallest and finest trees, driving 
away the Common and Night Herons. Sanguinary 
engagements took place for the possession of the nests, 
but the tenacity of the Cormorants at length gave them 
the victory, leaving them masters of the field, and in 
nowise troubled by either the screams and croakings 
of the Herons or the blows dealt by their tremendous 
beaks. Inasmuch, however, as the Cormorants, after 
they were once firmly established, did not take any 
further aggressive steps, peace was soon established 
between all parties, and now several Cormorants’ nests 
may frequently be seen on the highest branches of a 
tree, side by side with ten or a dozen Heron’s nests, the 
tenants of both flying to and fro as though they belonged 
to one family. 
“ The proportions of the numbers of the different 
species run much as follows:—to 2000 Night Herons 
there will be 500 Common Herons, 200 Cormorants, and 
100 Egrets. The increase of the feathered population 
on the island would be something astounding, were it not 
that some hundreds are shot, and numbers of nests taken 
every year, besides the depredations committed amongst 
