GRALLATORES. ARDEIDÆ,
T H E COMMON HERON.
Ardea cinerea, Common Heronr
,, major, ,, )J
„ „ The „
,, cinerea, Common ,,
Heron cendré.
P enn. Bjjt. Zool^o'l. ii. p. r d 7 ~
Mont. Ornith. Diet.
Bewick, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 8.
FxEif. Brit. An. p. 9§.v.
Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 11.
J eNTns, Brit. .Vert, p. 186.
G ould,' Birds o f Europe, pt. viii.
Temm. Man. d’Ornith. vol. ii. p, 567.
Ardea; Generic C W tm .-B e a k long, strong, straight, compressed, in a
lengthened cone jupper mandible slightly channelled, ridgfrrounded. Nostrils
lateral, basal, pierced longitudinally in the groove, and half closed by a mem-
brane. Legs long, slender, naked above the tarsal joint, Toes three in front,
tbe -two outer united IwM membrane ; one .toe behind, directed inwards : claws
sharp, the middle claw denticulated on the inside. Wings
of moderate size; *||p firs^ qralSeather a little ajWlef than the second or third,
Sw^^^pertbe ■lnnges.flair’lhe w in 'g .'"
■ ■ T h e ppTvrTvroN ^ T e r o ^ y the most, numerous, as
asjlfee best knpyn.,, %e, »group ,'of truly wading birds
formerite, ,-ih the paliny days, of
falconry, t^ç^pfeeiiwker^ bred y^febalmost held sacred ;
S '® )ird y gaihéjv.;h.nld;, penal statutes were;
4m:iyf.ed. for dA p reservatien. NfffiVhQwever,, ;the Heron is.
gafeegarded, and.] eft^’ofdj6p^^Qj^®own »sagacity for its safety/
Buring ,ymtert t^IfLeron is watchful, s h ^ a ^ solitary, sel-.
Mbm place;.
bjt^,e^arl#M©.> sntAi^B.u» b S are,, §eejL together, resorting to a
fa.iou$it^ ygoftM which they have' probably Ipk.Ctipied. .during
tlu ir dniyding^easom for yeaçs in. &uq|e^ion. At this time
^fdhfeÿh^ dhey ^ b n M ^ rfche R-pofe in many-,of their habits,
building^^j^bp^e ^1 1 -h iio ^ birds On jl%h trees,' generally
unnnÉfegh; baksVor tall ‘ kr^kand^in# |uqk numbers do they
^associate. that Rendant h a v in g himsOlf s counted
more than if eighty nests upon bnhf-pak atdCrol#.! Hall, near
•\%ialdiBg||n Lincolnshire;—ran e s ta ^ lh e n belonging', to the
Heron ; familyy§ one of thé most, ancient in this country/
Sometimes Heronscbuild on précipitons, rocks near the coast,
( as af;,§outh Stack Lighthouse, near Holyhead, mentioned
by Mr. Eyton, and nt^he Great Orme’s Head ; they are said
also to . build occasionally on; the "ground,.,among reeds and
rushes. The nest is of large : sizje,, having much the appearance
of that of the Rook, but rather broader ; if is formed of
sticks, and Jinad~-with , WJ8o^ The ; female lays four or five
eggs, of a uniform sea green cploin^ two finches three lines in
length, ,;byOne inch nine, lines in breadth, and incubation
lasts about twenty-eight days. When the young are hatched,
both parents assist in providing them with food until they are