lined with a little grass or other soft materials, and are placed close
to each other. Each nest contains four or five eggs, on which the female
sits constantly for three weeks, and is meanwhile fed by her mate. The
young are quite helpless till they are sufficiently fledged to perch on
the branches, where they receive nourishment from their parents. Herons,
according to Layard, are very abundant throughout Southern Africa, in all
suitable localities, feeding upon fish, frogs, and an occasional snake. "I
am told," says this observer, "that they breed on the Cape Flats, placing
their nests in company on tufts of grass and rushes, surrounded with
water." This seems very different from their European practice, but there
is no reason to doubt the word of my informant.
THE GIANT HERON.
The GIANT HERON (_Ardea Goliath_) is a powerful bird, of about fifty-two
inches long and seventy-one inches broad; the wing measures twenty-one and
the tail eight inches. Upon the head, upper neck, centre of breast, and
belly, the plumage is brownish red; the back and upper breast are dark
grey, and the throat and gullet white; the eyes are yellow, the eye-rings
violet, and the bridles green; the upper mandible is black, and lower one
violet tipped with greenish yellow; the foot is black. This species leads
a solitary life upon the shores of the fresh-water lakes and streams of
Central Africa. In disposition it is extremely shy; it flies badly, has
a harsh loud voice, and subsists upon fish, reptiles, birds, and small
quadrupeds. In other respects it closely resembles the _Ardea cinerea_. We
are entirely without particulars respecting its habits.
[Illustration: THE GREAT WHITE HERON (_Herodias alba_). ONE-SIXTH NATURAL
SIZE.]
[Illustration: _Plate 34. Cassell's Book of Birds_
BUPHUS COMATA ____ SQUACCO HERON
(_about ½ Nat. size_)]
* * * * *
The WHITE HERONS (_Herodias_) possess a slender body, long neck, and a
comparatively weak bill. Their pure white plumage is adorned with long
streaming feathers on the back during the period of incubation.
[Illustration: THE LESSER EGRET (_Herodias garzetta_). ONE-FOURTH NATURAL
SIZE.]
THE GREAT WHITE HERON.
The GREAT WHITE HERON (_Herodias alba_) has the entire plumage of pure
and dazzling white. The eye is yellow, and the beak dark yellow; the
bare cheeks are greenish yellow, and the feet dark grey. This species is
forty inches long and seventy-two broad; the wing measures twenty-one
inches, and the tail seven inches and a half. The beak changes colour,
not according to the age of the bird, but at different seasons of the
year. The young do not exhibit the streaming feathers on the back. This
Heron inhabits the southern parts of Siberia and South-eastern Europe, and
during its migrations appears in South Asia and North Africa. In India,
and South and Western Africa, it is replaced by a very similar species.
In England it is occasionally but rarely seen. Like its congeners, this
beautiful bird occupies marshy ground in the vicinity of water, preferring
such spots as are least frequented by man, and subsists upon the same
fare as other members of its family. In its general air and movements,
however, it differs from them in many respects; it walks with a more
stately step, flies faster and more gracefully, and constantly assumes a
variety of strange postures; when standing, it frequently buries its head,
neck, and one leg in its plumage, and thus presents the appearance of a
great white ball fastened to the top of a thin stick. The large nest of
this bird is placed amongst reeds, of portions of which it is also built;
so firm and strong are these heaps that, as we are told, they can support
the weight of a man. The eggs are usually three or four in number, and
have a smoother shell and bluer tint than those of the species before
described.
THE LESSER EGRET.
The LESSER EGRET (_Herodias garzetta_) resembles the above bird in its
general appearance and habits, but it is not more than twenty-four
inches long and forty-two broad; the wing measures twelve and the tail
four inches. In this species the eye is bright red, the beak black,
and the foot black, with greenish yellow joints. This beautiful little
Egret occupies the same latitudes as the larger species, and, according
to Layard, has been procured both in winter and nuptial dress in the
vicinity of Cape Town; also at Colesberg, and at the Kneysna. The stomachs
examined by that naturalist contained multitudes of small aquatic shells.
A nearly-allied species (_Ardea egretta_) is common on the Kneysna, but is
so shy as to be almost unapproachable; it breeds on a small rock on the
sea.
The Little Egret is now very rare in Great Britain, but was formerly much
more common, and was regarded by our forefathers as a dainty article of
food. In the celebrated feast on the enthronisation of Archbishop Nevill
no less than 1,000 Egrets are mentioned in the bill of fare.
THE CATTLE HERON.
The CATTLE HERON (_Bubulcus ibis_) represents a group recognisable by
their compact form, short neck, short powerful beak, short legs, and the
hair-like development of some of their feathers. The plumage is pure
white during the breeding season, adorned with long, flowing, rust-red
feathers on the crown, upper breast, and back. The eyes are light yellow,
the bridles and eyelids greenish yellow, the beak is orange, and the foot
of the adult bird reddish yellow; that of the young is of a brownish
shade. The male is nineteen inches long and thirty-four broad; the wing
measures nine inches and a quarter, and the tail three inches and a
quarter; the female is not quite so large. This species is extremely
common in Egypt, where, unlike other Herons, it frequents inhabited
districts, preferring inundated fields, and only occasionally visiting
the banks of lakes or streams. In Egypt it is constantly seen following
the buffaloes and cattle, or inspecting their backs, in search of insects
or grubs; and in Eastern Soudan accompanying droves of elephants for the
same purpose. We have been told, on reliable authority, that as many as
twenty of these birds are sometimes seen upon a single elephant. With the
natives they live on most excellent terms, and carry on their acceptable
work quite regardless of their presence. Such of these birds as inhabit
Egypt commence breeding when the Nile rises, while those dwelling in
Eastern Soudan lay somewhat earlier in the year. The nests are built close
together upon trees, and are constantly seen close to the huts of the
natives. The eggs, from three to five in number, are oval in form, and
have a greenish blue shell.
THE NIGHT HERON.
The NIGHT HERON (_Nycticorax Europæus_) has a compact body, short, thick,
broad beak, curved at its culmen, moderately high legs, broad wings, and
thick plumage, which, unlike that of the members of the family already
described, has but three of its feathers unusually prolonged; these are
slender, and placed on the back of the head. In the adult bird, the crown,
nape, upper part of the back, and shoulders are greenish black, the
rest of the mantle and sides of the throat dark grey; the feathers on
the under side are pale straw-yellow, and the three long crest-feathers
either quite white or white and black. The eye is of a rich purple, the
beak black with yellow base, the bare patch on the head green, and the
foot greenish yellow. In the young, the mantle is brown, spotted with
brownish yellow and yellowish white; the throat yellow, and belly white,
spotted with brown; the eyebrows are brown, and the head without crest.
This species is from twenty-one to twenty-two inches long, and forty-four
broad; the wing measures twelve inches and a half, and the tail four
inches and a quarter.
The Night Heron is extremely common in Holland in the summer, and is also
met with in Germany, Italy, the south of France, and Spain; occasionally,
but very rarely, it has been shot in Great Britain. It visits Africa
during the winter, and is found far in the interior of that continent. In
northern latitudes it appears about the end of April, and leaves again in
September or October. The Night Herons both sleep and breed upon trees,
and therefore principally frequent well-wooded localities, whether these
be in the vicinity of water or not; in moist, well-planted regions,
however, they are especially numerous. Except during the breeding season
they sleep, or at any rate remain quiet, throughout the entire day, and
only descend at twilight from their perches in order to seek for food.
Upon the ground they progress slowly, with short steps, but move in the
air with comparative swiftness, alternating an easy gliding motion with
rapid but noiseless strokes of the wings. In places where these birds
abound, they are often seen flying together in very large flocks, at a
considerable height, on their way to a suitable hunting-ground, over which
they generally hover before alighting. Among the branches they climb with
an agility that is not exceeded by any member of the family. Their voice
is extremely harsh, and somewhat resembles the discordant croak of the
Raven. The Night Herons breed from May to July, and usually form regular
settlements not only of their own species, but with many allied birds. The
large, carelessly-constructed nest is placed high on trees, and contains
four or five oval green eggs of very various shades. The female broods,
whilst her mate mounts guard quietly perched by her side, or quarrels with
and teases other males in his neighbourhood.
The Great Night Heron of America, which is considered by Audubon and
others as a distinct species, is seen as far as the northern and eastern
extremities of the United States, but is unknown farther northwards.
In the winter it goes as far as the tropics. These birds arrive in
Pennsylvania in April, and immediately take possession of their old
nurseries, usually in the depths of a cedar swamp, or of some inundated
and inaccessible grove of oaks; there they pass the day till twilight
comes, and then the parent birds sally forth to the sea-shores and marshes
in search of food for themselves and young, proceeding in marshalled
ranks, and uttering from time to time a guttural "kwah," in a hollow
voice, that resembles the sound of a person vomiting. The eyries of the
"Kwah" birds have been occupied from remote times by eighty or one hundred
pairs, and when the trees are felled, they only remove to another part of
the same swamp.
* * * * *
The BITTERNS (_Ardetta_) are recognisable by their comparatively small
size, slender bill, low feathered tarsi, their short wings, in which the
second quill is longer than the rest, and weak short tail. The plumage,
which is by no means striking in its coloration, varies in hue according
to the age and sex of the bird.
THE LITTLE BITTERN.
The LITTLE BITTERN (_Ardetta minuta_) is from fourteen to sixteen inches
long, and from twenty-one to twenty-three broad; the wing measures five
inches and three-quarters, and the tail two inches. This elegant bird is
of a glossy blackish green on the crown, nape, back, and shoulders; the
upper wing and under side are reddish yellow, spotted with black on the
side of the breast; the quills and tail-feathers are black; the eye and
bridles yellow. The pale yellow beak is brown at its culmen; and the
foot greenish yellow. In the female all the dark parts are brownish black,
and the light portions of the plumage pale yellow; the young have the
crown and nape reddish brown, striped with a deeper shade, the under side
spotted brown and reddish yellow, and lower belly and tail-covers white.
The Little Bittern is only a summer visitor to Great Britain. It frequents
marshes, osier holts, and other places in the neighbourhood of water,
feeding on such small animal food as is there easily obtained.
[Illustration: DAY AND NIGHT HERONS.]
* * * * *
[Illustration: THE COMMON BITTERN (_Botaurus stellaris_). ONE-FOURTH
NATURAL SIZE.]
The COMMON BITTERN (_Botaurus stellaris_) is the representative of a group
having a compact body, long thin neck, a narrow high beak, large-toed
feet, broad wings, a tail composed of ten feathers, and thick plumage,
which is slightly prolonged on the neck. The sexes only differ in their
size. In both the crown is black, the nape greyish black, mixed with
yellow, and the rest of the plumage spotted and streaked with dark
brown of various shades; the throat exhibits three stripes; the eye is
bright yellow, and the bare portion around it greyish green; the upper
mandible is brownish grey, and the lower one of greenish hue; the foot
is light green, with yellow joints. This bird is twenty-eight inches
long and forty-eight broad. The wing measures fifteen and the tail five
inches. The nest is placed in marshes, among reeds. The eggs are five in
number, of an olive colour. Its food consists principally of fish and
reptiles of various kinds. During the breeding season it utters a loud
bellowing noise, and for this cause it probably received the generic
name of _Botaurus_. "This bellowing noise", says Latham, "is supposed to
arise from a loose membrane, which can be filled with air and exploded
at pleasure. The situation of it is at the divarication of the windpipe.
It is capable of great distension, and is probably the cause of this
singular phenomenon, observed, we believe, in no other bird, at least
in the same degree." At other times the bird makes a sharp harsh cry on
rising, not unlike that of a Wild Goose.
THE SUN BITTERN, OR PEACOCK HERON.
The SUN BITTERN, or PEACOCK HERON (_Eurypyga helias_), represents a group
of South American birds, having a small meagre body, long thin neck, a
head resembling that of a Heron, and a long, straight, hard-pointed, and
powerful beak, compressed at its sides, and slightly arched at its culmen.
The high slender foot has the hinder toe moderately developed; and the
large broad wing has its third quill longer than the rest; the remarkably
long tail is composed of broad feathers. The rich, lax, and variegated
plumage is black upon the head and nape; the eyebrows, a line that passes
from the corner of the mouth to the nape, the chin, and throat are all
white; the feathers on the back and shoulders, and the upper secondaries
are black, striped with brownish red; the feathers on the rump and upper
tail-covers are black and white; those on the neck striped black and
white; and those on the under side yellowish or brownish white; the quills
are light grey, veined with black and white, and striped with brown; the
tail is similarly coloured, but is broadly marked with a black stripe,
edged on one side with brown. Slight variations from the above colours and
markings are often observable. The eye is red, the beak yellow, and the
foot straw-colour. This species is about sixteen inches long.
This beautiful bird is a native of the northern parts of South America,
and is met with on the coast and river-banks from Guiana to Peru, and
from Ecuador to the Province of Goyas, in Brazil. Upon the shores of the
Orinoco and Amazon it is especially numerous. We are told by travellers
that among all the gorgeously-coloured inhabitants of these luxuriant
regions, the Peacock Heron is conspicuous, presenting as it does a most
brilliant combination of yellow, green, black, brown, and grey, when seen
by the full light of the sun, in whose rays it delights to bask, keeping
meanwhile its wings and tail gracefully outspread. In Para, in Northern
Brazil, says Bates, "the banks at the edge of the water are clothed with
mangrove bushes, and beneath them the muddy banks, into which the long
roots that hang down from the fruit before it leaves the branches strike
their fibres, swarm with crabs. On the lower branches the beautiful
_Ardea Eurypyga helias_ is found. This is a small Heron, of exquisitely
graceful shape and mien; its plumage is minutely variegated with bars and
spots of many colours, like the wings of certain kinds of moths. It is
difficult to see the bird in the woods, on account of its sombre colours
and the shadiness of its dwelling-places; but its note, a soft, long-drawn
whistle, often betrays its hiding-place. I was told by the Indians that it
builds on trees, and that the nest, which is made of clay, is beautifully
constructed. It is a favourite pet-bird of the Brazilians, who call it
Pavaõ (pronounced 'Pavaong'), or Peacock. I often had opportunities of
observing its habits. It soon becomes tame, and walks about the floors of
houses, picking up scraps of food, or catching insects, which it secures
by walking gently to the place where they settle, and spearing them
with its long slender beak. It allows itself to be handled by children,
and will answer to its name 'Pavaõ! Pavaõ!' walking up with a dainty,
circumspect gait, and taking a fly or beetle from the hand." According to
Castelnau, in its wild state the Sun Bittern is by no means so amiable,
but if molested, springs upon its enemy as a cat does upon a mouse,
beating the air meanwhile with its wings.
For further particulars respecting the habits of this beautiful species,
we are indebted to observations made on birds that have been successfully
reared in the Zoological Gardens of London and Amsterdam. A pair of
Peacock Herons purchased in 1862 by the London Zoological Society, in 1865
showed symptoms of a desire to breed. According to Mr. Bartlett, whom we
have to thank for the following interesting particulars, early in May they
commenced carrying bits of grass, sticks, and such-like scraps, and were
constantly walking round their pond, evidently in search of materials to
compose a nest, and appeared to try to mix wet dirt with bits of moss.
This proceeding suggested the idea of supplying them with wet clay and
mud, which they at once employed. After a short time, they decided to make
their nest on the top of a pole or tree about ten feet from the ground,
on which was fixed an old straw nest. Both birds carried up mud and clay,
mixed with bits of straw and grass-roots, in order to form the outer wall,
and plastered the inside thickly with a coating of mud. Shortly after the
nest was completed a broken egg was found, and in the early part of June
another was laid; both parents took their turn in the work of incubation,
and hatched the young bird on the 9th of July. It was covered with fine
short down, and closely resembled a young Plover or Snipe in its general
appearance. It remained in the nest, and was fed with small live fishes
and insects, and did not gape or cry, but as soon as the parents appeared
with food, it pecked the morsels from them, and swallowed them. It left
the nest in twenty-one days, its wings being strong enough to bear it to
the ground, where it was fed as before, and never returned to the nest;
it grew very rapidly, and in two months' time was not distinguishable
from the adults. Early in August the old birds began to repair the nest,
adding a fresh lining of mud and clay; and at the end of the month the
female laid another egg. This time the male attended more to the duties
of incubation than his partner, who devoted her principal attention to
feeding her now full-grown offspring. The second young bird was hatched
on the 28th of September, but received such slight attention from its
parents that the keeper feared it might starve from their neglect, and he
therefore determined to go up by a ladder and feed it. The hungry little
fellow took the food readily from his hand, and was thus reared till it
arrived at maturity.
* * * * *
The MARSH-WADERS (_Paludicolæ_) comprise so great a variety of species
as to render a general description of their characteristics extremely
difficult. In these birds the body is powerful, the neck of moderate size,
the head small, the beak round and straight, the legs long, and the feet
furnished with four toes; the wings are of medium length, and the tail
short. The thick plumage varies strikingly in its hues in old and young
birds, and but little in the sexes. Most of the members of this group
occupy moist or boggy localities, and pass their lives upon the ground,
while some few frequent the branches of trees. Insects, small animals of
various kinds, combined with vegetable diet, afford them the means of
subsistence. The eggs are deposited in a nest, and have a spotted shell.
* * * * *
The CRANES (_Grues_) constitute by far the largest, best formed, and most
intelligent division of the above birds, and are characterised by their
almost conical body, long thin neck, small, beautifully-shaped head, and
sharp, moderately strong beak, which is straight and slightly compressed
at its sides and blunt at the culmen, about as long as the head, soft at
its base, and hard at the tip. The long powerful legs are bare, and the
feet are furnished with four toes; of these the hinder toe is so small as
not to touch the ground; the exterior and centre toes are connected by
skin as far as the first joints; the claws are short, blunt, and flatly
curved, the wings large and broad, with the third quill longer than the
rest and the upper secondaries much prolonged; the short tail is usually
rounded, and the thick plumage composed of small feathers; in some species
the head and neck are bare, in others adorned with beautiful plumes. The
sexes are similar in their coloration, but differ much in size; the young
resemble the adult bird after the first moulting, but only attain the
flowing crest at a later period.
[Illustration: THE SUN BITTERN, OR PEACOCK HERON (_Eurypyga helias_).
ONE-FOURTH NATURAL SIZE.]
Cranes are met with in almost every portion of the globe, but are
especially numerous in its warmer regions; such as inhabit northern
latitudes migrate as far as, but do not breed in the countries near the
equator. Marshy localities or morasses, in the vicinity of cultivated
land, are the situations they prefer, as affording a rich and constant
supply of the frogs, molluscs, worms, and vegetable diet upon which they
subsist. In Palestine the Cranes visit the cultivated districts only in
the time of their spring migrations, when but a few pairs remain in the
marshy plains, while the greater number pass on to the north. In the
Southern Wilderness they resort in immense numbers to certain favourite
roosting-places during the winter. Towards evening at this season, we are
told that clouds of these enormous birds literally darken the air. Their
roosting-place, according to Dr. Tristram, is usually a gently-sloping,
isolated knoll, where no ambush is possible, and where they can keep
a good look-out on all sides. In such situations their whooping and
trumpeting cry is to be heard through the entire night. The following
interesting particulars respecting the migrations of these birds in the
Wilderness of Sinai are from the notes of the Rev. F. W. Holland:--"On
March the 22nd we saw an immense flock of Cranes crossing the Red Sea from
Africa. The line appeared to stretch across the whole breadth of the sea.
Five days afterwards we found a solitary one amongst the mountains, which
did not attempt to fly, but stalked majestically on before our camels,
quite regardless of a few revolver bullets whizzing close past him. At
last an Arab boy gave chase, and running him into a bush soon caught him,
and returned in triumph, holding him up by the tips of his wings. When
released he stalked on as unconcernedly as before; but when on the point
of being caught again, the strange bird suddenly took wing, and after
wheeling round several times flew away over the mountains. On the 13th of
April, three days south of Beersheba, in the desert, another large flock
of more than two thousand Cranes passed over our heads, all going north
as the others. In the beginning of May, several smaller flocks were seen
crossing the same desert from Akabah towards Suez."
THE COMMON CRANE.
The COMMON CRANE (_Grus cinerea_) is recognisable by its partially bare
head, and the long curly feathers on its upper wing-covers. In this bird
the plumage is principally ash-grey, black in the region of the throat and
brow, and whitish on the side of the neck; the quills are black, the eyes
brownish red, and the feet blackish; the beak is reddish at its base, and
blackish green at its tip. This species is four feet and a half long, and
seven and three-quarters broad; the wing measures twenty-five and the tail
eight inches in length.