go THE NATURAL HISTORY 
Herons feem very melancholy. They are, 
general very lean, and very fhy. They ftand 
hours, and fgmetimes for days together, in tf 
fame place, 1, motionlefs. “They feem, 
though afleep, ftanding upon one leg, andq 
‘head and neck are drawn back between. the 
fhoulders. J 
They walk into the water above their knee 
their head is placed between their legs to watcht 
frogs or the fifh, but they are obliged to y 
until their prey comes to them; and as they ha 
but one inftant to feize it in, they often faft a loy 
while, and this is the reafon that they are gem 
rally fo lean. 
In the fevere cold of winter, whilft other bir 
feek the beft fhelter, the poor melancholy Her 
ftands alone, and quite expofed to all the keennd 
of the winds. A Gentleman once took one th 
~ was half frozen and covered with fleet. 
In the day they are generally ftill, hut in 
night they take their flights, and then it is th 
we hear their harfh cry, at all hours, and in eve 
feafon. ) 
When they fly, the head is drawn in betwee 
the fhoulders, and the legs hang down. 
Formerly Eagles and Falcons were employs 
to attack them. The Heron then rifes as hig 

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