Identifier: colouredillustra41847meye (find matches)
Title: Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs
Year: 1842 (1840s)
Authors: Meyer, H. L. (Henry Leonard), d. 1864 Meyer, H. L. (Henry Leonard), d. 1864. Illustrations of British birds Rutter, Daniel, former owner. DSI Rolle, Mark, former owner. DSI S. & J. Bentley, Wilson & Fley, printer S. & J. Bentley and Henry Fley, printer
Subjects: Birds Birds Birds Taxidermists Birds
Publisher: London : G.W. Nickisson
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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inity of rivers and lakes. ManyHerons remain with us the whole year, their numbers beingincreased from time to time by visitors from abroad, whensevere frosts drive them southward from Norway or Sweden :but the greater number of Herons pass the winter in thesouthern parts of Europe, and on the opposite coast of theMediterranean, to which retreat the birds migrate in Septem-ber and October, and return from thence northward again inMarch and April. Herons do not migrate in silence, for,whether they fly high or low, they continually utter their harsh,unmelodious note, resembling the word craigh uttered ina lengthened manner with cracked and high-pitched voices.They generally travel in pairs. The locality preferred by the Heron is near the pureand clear water of rivers and running streams, as much freefrom flags and weeds as can be found, as in such still, retiredspots the birds can best pursue profitably their vocation,in obtaining the food most suitable to their tastes andhabits. PL 104
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HERON. 141 The general appearance of the Heron when on the groundis rather ungainly and awkward, but it occasionally may beseen standing in a becoming position; and there is a simpleunpretending beauty in the colouring of its plumage, and inthe distribution and diversified texture of its ornamentalfeathers. When winged, or brought to the ground by somecasualty, the Heron defends itself most vigorously, in whichcase it is dangerous for a sportsman to approach it unprepared,for the blows and stabs of its powerful beak are not to betrifled with ; and the habit of darting its beak at a swimmingfish or reptile teaches it to take an unerring aim: thus theeyes of the Herons opponent are endangered. We knowmore than one instance of a boy having been thus blinded bya Heron in the shooting season, while in the act of picking upa wounded bird. When in the air they strike also with theirfeet: this they will do when they are shot at without beinghit. The Heron is very adroit at stealing upon its u

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