#14 “NATURAL HISTORY. 
of providing for themfelves, the young ones will 
ferve them with food in the hour of neceflity, cover 
and cherifh them with their wings, and even car 
them on'their backs to a great diftance. Whatan 
example is this of filial piety ! Who can obferve this 
~ affectionate bird, opel fbi defending its aged an 
helplefs parent, till death relieves them. from their © | 
anxiety, without exclaimjng, O ye children, imitate . 
this amichle example; l@t nota fimple bird upbraid 
and condemn you; but, on the contrary, let it ftimu. 
late-you to the difcharge of this moft pleafing duty 
let it recal to your mind the anxious days and flceple/s 
nights they have endured in nurfing, protefing and 
promoting your welfare; and you will not fail te 
imitate the fork, 2n foothing their decline of life, with 
Ag lenients of -your love, caré, obedience and grati- 
txde, ) 
i 
z moO TG RG IG Hh 
HERON. 
Tuts bird may be diftinguifhed from the crane 
and ftork, by its fmaller fize; by the bill, which is 
much Jonger in proportion ; andalfo by the middle ~ 
- claw of each foot, which are toothed like a faw, to @ 
enable it to feize and more fecurely hold its flippery 
a! TEV ate 
P So numerous is the tribe of herons, that Briffon 
has enumerated fortyfeven different forts.. Though | 
exceflively voracious, they are always leanand hun- ~ 
gry, weighing no more than about three poundgand 
a half each, notwithftanding they meafure three feet 
in length, and five in breadth. ” Although it is moft - 
, \formidably armed with bill and claws; it is fo cows 
ardly as to fly from a fparrow hawk. Fifth and frogs 
are its chief food ; but it cannot endure a long ab- 
fiinence. Its voracity is fuch, that Willoughby fays, 

