Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-10-04

LII. NcWComUt VI sniS SAAAoSSs -
DAY, brought to our office a heron, which
was shot by Ezekiel Bullard Of North
Hyde Park. 1t measures 5'feet inches
from the'tip'of its bill to the tip Of its
toes, and its wings spread feet and one
inch. This bird is very rare in this part
Of the country. The following from 1.-THE
Naturilist's Library" by A. A.. Gould, M.
A., will give better idea Of the bird
than anything we can say;
1.-THE common heron (Ardsa einsrsa,)
is remarkably light in proportion ts its
bulk, scarcely weighing three pounds and
half, yet it expands breadth of wing
which is 5 feet from tip to tip Its bill
= very long, being s inches from the point
to the base; its claws are long, sharp,
and the middlemost toothed like saw.
Yet, thus armed as for war, it is indolcnt
and cowardly, and flies even at the ap-
proach of sparrow-hawk. When driven
to extremity, however, it shakes off it'
tinidity, and displays. both courage and
skill. When its antagonist succeeds in
rising above it, which is not easily DONE
she heron doubles his neck backward un-,
der his wing, and turns his bill upward,
Hike bayonet. In this manner, he some
times contrives to transfx even the pow
erful sea eagle.
"Of all birds, this commits the great
est devastation in fresh water; and there
is scarcely fish, though ever SO large,
that he will not strike at and wound,
though unable to carry it away. But the
smaller.fry are his chief subsistence; these,
pursued by their larger fellows of the
deep, are obliged to take refuge in shall
low waters, where they find the heron q
still more Formidable enemy. His meth
,od is to wade as far as he can 60 into the
water, and then patiently wait the ap-
proach of his prey, which, when it comes
within sight, he darts upon with an inev-
table aim. In this manner he is found
to destroy more in week than an otter
n three months i have seen heron,
says Willoughby, that had been shot,
which had seventeen carps in his belly at
once, which he will digest in six or seven
hours. have seen carp continues he'
taken out of heron's belly, nine inch
Is and half long Several gentlemen
who kept tame herons, to try what guam
tity one of them would eat in a day, have
put several smaller roach and dace in q
tub; and they have found him to eat
fifty in day, one day with another. In
this manner single heron will destroy
fifteen thousand carp in single year
"But though in seasons Of fine wealth
er the heron can always find a plentiful
supply, in cold or stormy seasons ais.prey
ID no longer within reach; the fish tina
before came into shallow water now keel
in the Deep as they find it to be tn
warmest situation. Frogs and lizards
also, seldom venture from their lurking
places; and the heron is obliged to sup
pert himself upon hislons habits Of pa
tience, and even to take up the weed
tha. grow upon the water. At those time
he contracts consurrptive disposition
which succeeding plenty is not able to re
move; 50 that the meagre glutton spend
his time between want and riot. and feel
alternately the extremes Of famine an
excess. Hence, Notwithstanding the cas-
with which he takes his prey, and th
amazing quantity he devours, the hero
is always lean, and emaciated; an
though his crop be usually found full
yet his flesh is scarce sufficient to cow
the bones.
Though this bird lives chiefly amos
pools and marshes, yet it's nest is built.c
thstop Of the highest trees. and som
times on cliffs hanging over the Sc
They are never in Aocks when they ifs
committing their depredations in solitu'
and silence. but in making their mes
they love each others society ; and tn
ere seen, like rocks. building in compal
with hocks Of their kind. Their mel
are made Of sticks, and lined with woo