Of her cities the boast-known to Gallia and SpainTo Afric's north clime, and the Nile's fertile plain'; Mediterranean; feeds on fish. This bird bears confinement and breeds in some menageries; its manners are gentle, and it sometimes puts itself in elegant attitudes; at others strange and uncouth, especially such as imitate dancing. At Florence a bird of this species was taught to dance to a tune when played or sung to it. It is called in some parts of the East Kurki or Querky; it is common in India, where it is seen in vast flocks on the banks of the Ganges, in company with the crane; it is there called Curcurna and Currakeel. The trachea of this bird is of singular construction, not going, as in most birds, directly to the lungs, but first enters a cavity or groove in the keel of the breast bone for about three inches, when it returns, after making a bend forwards, and then passes into the chest. The Major, HERON, COMMON-HERON, Hern, Crested-Heron, Heronshaw, Hernshaw, Hernsew, or Crane, is about three feet three inches long; forehead and crown of the head white; hind part of the head feathers glossy black, very long, forming a loose pen. dent crest; neck whitish, scapulars grey and white, wing coverts bluish grey; bastard wings, greater quill feathers, and sides of the body, from the breast to below the thighs, black; beneath white; tail bluish ash colour; legs very long. The female wants the black and white feathers on the head, instead of which that part is bluish grey, not much elongated into a crest. Found in most parts of the known world, and common in the fenny and marshy districts of England, where it builds frequently in large numbers together on trees, such associations being called Heronries or Cranaries. The nests are large and flat, made with sticks, lined with wool and other soft materials; eggs four or five greenish blue, size of those of a duck. Feeds on fishes and reptiles. This bird has been observed repeat Nay, o'er earth wings its flight, every where is caress'd, Finds protection alike for itself and its nest. edly to swallow the same eel, which has repeatedly crept through it. It is thus described by Drayton as awaiting for its prey: "The long neck'd hern there waiting by the brim." And its flight thus; Man in the Moon. "To inland marsh the hern With undulating wing scarce visible Far up the azure concave journies on." A Blackwood's Mag. May 1822. Craneries are not very common in this country; they are however occasionally to be seen. At the present time (1825) there is, and for many years past has been, a Cranery at Brockley woods, near Bristol. I am indebted for this information to my friend the Rev. W. PHELPS, of Wells. There are also Heronries, according to Dr. LATHAM, at the following places:-Penshurst, Kent; Hutton, in Yorkshire; Gobay Park, near Penrith; and Cressi Hall, near Spalding. There is also now one at Donnington-in-Holland, in Lincolnshire.WHITWORTH. The Heron was formerly in this country a bird of game, heron-hawking being a favourite diversion with our ancestors; laws were also enacted for the preservation of this bird, and the person who destroyed its eggs was liable to a penalty of twenty shillings. The Gardeni, GARDENIAN, or Spotted-Heron, the size of a rook, is also found occasionally in this country; it also inhabits South Carolina and Cayenne. The Minuta, LITTLE-BITTERN, Boonk or Long-neck, is a beautiful bird, scarcely larger than a fieldfare in the body; it is rarely found in this country, more frequently on the European continent. The Nycticorax, NIGHT-HERON, Night-Raven, Lesser ash The BITTERN came booming from marshes among; coloured Heron or Qua-bird, is about two feet long; it is rare in England; more common in Russia and America. It is minutely described by WILSON. The crown is crested, which, and the hind head, is dark-blue, glossed with green; three very narrow, white, and tapering feathers, proceed from the hind head, about nine inches long; these the bird erects when alarmed; back and scapulars deep blue, glossed with green; beneath white. It is migratory in Pennsylvania; called in America Qua-bird, from its note Qua. The Stellaris, BITTERN, Bittour, Bumpy-coss, Butter-Bump or Miredrum, is rather less than the common heron; its plumage is, in general, of a dull pale yellow, elegantly variegated with spots and bars of black; the great coverts and quill feathers are ferruginous, regularly barred with black; legs pale green. Inhabits the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and both Americas. In this country it is found chiefly a few miles from the seacoast, in sedgy moors, where it breeds among reeds, laying four or five eggs of a greenish ash-colour. It feeds on fishes and reptiles. About sun-set rises in the air to a vast height in a spiral direction, making a prodigious noise : "Swift as the bittern soars on spiral wing." SOUTHEY'S Curse of Kehama. It also makes a peculiarly deep and hollow sound in the spring during the breeding season, which is called by naturalists booming: see below. It migrates from one part of the country to another; but it is in this kingdom scarce, and esteemed a rarity at the tables of the great. If brought down by the gun with only a broken wing, it displays great courage, and cannot with safety be secured till deprived of life. "A bittern was The CRANE, in his unostentatious ash-grey, And with pinions of power that he chose to display, Arose at two bounds with an eel in his mouth; The LITTLE White EGRET, too, came from the south. shot and eaten at Keswick by a young Cantab a few years ago; for which shooting," says Mr. SOUTHEY, "I vituperate him in spirit whenever I think of it." The Egrettu, GREAT-EGRET, or Great-White-Heron, is three feet three inches long; the whole plumage white. It is found in both North and South America; builds sometimes on trees; eggs three or four, pale blue; feeds on frogs, lizards, &c.; if taken young, easily domesticated. The Garzetta, or LITTLE-EGRET, is the size of a fowl; the whole plumage white; found in all the warmer parts of the globe; once plentiful in this country, although now extremely scarce. The Gigantea, GIGANTIC-CRANE, ADJUTANT, Hurgill, Argill, Argala, Large-Throat, or Bone-taker, is the largest of the tribe, expanding fourteen feet ten inches; the bill is of a vast size, yellowish-white or horn colour, and opens very far up into the head; the head and neck naked; front yellow; on the lower part of the neck, and before, is a large conical pouch; the upper part of the back and shoulders furnished with white feathers; back and wing coverts deep bluish ash; beneath white. Inhabits the East Indies and Africa; feeds on various reptiles; a very useful bird, and hence much respected. The feathers of the vent used by the ladies as ornaments for the head in a similar way as those of the ostrich. A Crane is described in Chandler's Travels in Asia Minor, as having a white body with black pinions; it is like a heron, but much larger; it builds frequently on domes, and other buildings. They often make a great clatter with their long beaks, which is sometimes repeated by others all over the town. This noise is sometimes continued through the whole of the night, The DEMOISELLE HERON, by dancing well known, While displaying his feathers long, pendent and white. The Turks call this bird friend and brother; of course, it is much respected; a variety, most probably, of the stork. Mr.SOUTHEY has described these birds, and the Bittern's Booming, in the following lines: "The cranes upon the mosque Kept their night clatter still; When through the gate the early traveller past. Distinct in darkness seen Above the low horizon's lingering light Rose the near ruins of Old Babylon." THALABA, Vol. i. page 224. (24) ORDER, PICÆ, (Linn.) HOOPOE, the COMMON, the CRESTED, the GRAND PROMEROPS, &c. The genus UPUPA, (Linn.) HOOPOE, or Hoop, consists of teu or more species scattered over the warmer climates of the globe. They have an arched, long, slender, convex, a little compressed, and somewhat obtuse, bill; nostrils small, at the base of the bill; tongue obtuse, entire, triangular, very short; feet formed for walking. The following are the chief: The Epops, or COMMON-HOOPOE, is often seen in this country; it is a beautiful bird, in length twelve inches, and distin. guished by its enormous tuft of feathers, which rises perpendicularly from the crown of the head, and which it can erect or depress at pleasure. The crest feathers are brown, tipt with black; the back, scapulars, and wings, are crossed with broad bars of white and black; breast and belly white. Found all over |