File:Stories about birds of land and water (1874) (14727894426).jpg

Identifier: storiesaboutbird00kirb (find matches)
Title: Stories about birds of land and water
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Kirby, Mary, 1817-1893 Kirby, Elizabeth, 1823-1873
Subjects: Birds -- Juvenile literature
Publisher: Hartford (Conn.) : American Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
THE GTANT HERON. indeed, the common heron is by no means so plentiful as he used to be, whilethe great white heron belongs to America. He is dressed at all times in a costume of spotless white, slightly tingedwith cream colour. His flight is firm and regular, and can be kept up a very STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. long time. He urges himself forward by slow regular flaps, his head drawnin, and his legs extended. Now and then he sails in wide circles, and whenhe alights he always wheels round and round before he settles. When a white row of herons are standing watching for fish along theriver, they look, against the blue sky, like statues of the purest alabaster.They do not move towards their prc>, but watch till it approaches them ; 1 f^ r^ , //////V,1:i\K\\\ a mmA^
Text Appearing After Image:
TlIK PEACOCK HERO.\, OR SUN BITTEK.N. they swallow it alive, or, if it is large, beat it on the water or shake it untilit is dead. They do not move until the tide drives them back, and even thenremain until the water reaches their body. They roost on trees, but rarely alight on the same tree, as if they wereafraid of being discovered by their great enemy, man. Often, while the flock are asleep during the day, two or more heronsstand, with outstretched necks, acting the part of sentinels. If there isa splash in the water, as some great fish, such as the shark, giv^es chaseto another fish, the heron sentinels give a start, and seem much alarmed.

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