File:Stories about birds of land and water (1874) (14750890885).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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. All the branches near the place wherethey live are completely battered and broken down by them, and the groundis strewed with feathers, and fishes, and pieces ot old nests, and all kinds ofrubbish. And we can hardly describe the noise, for it is enough to deafen you.They keep repeating the note qua-qua, until the Indian gives them thename of qua-birds. The little herons are some time before they know how to fly, but theysoon begin to crawl about the branches, and get to the top of the tree to look outfor their parents. They are terribly afraid of being caught, and if by chanceany one comes that way—and the Indian thinks young heron as nice as pigeon—they scramble out of the way as fast as they can, and hide themselvesamong the mud. The common heron is the most familiar of its tribe. Its general colouris ashy grey with a bluish tinge. The blue tinge is deeper on the back ofthe head, that is ornamented with a crest of narrow black feathers, shadingthe back of the neck. 777^ HERON.
Text Appearing After Image:
THE UKtAT UUlit iih.k(JN-. The upper part of the neck is of a light grey, and the wings have areddish tinge. The under part of the plumage is pure white, marked onthe front of the breast with large black spots. 2 24 ST0J?7jES about BIRDS. The herons are birds of passage, and their going and coming dependon the supply of food they can obtain. They are nowhere very abundant;but are met with in almost every part of the northern and temperate regionsof the old world. They build their nests in companies, like the rooks, in lofty trees, in theneighbourhood of streams and rivers, and such places are called heronries.They are very fond of the society of the ravens, although the raven oftenreturns their friendship by carrying off their eggs. The falcons and theweasels are also great enemies to the young birds. The heron leaves thecare of hatching the brood to his partner, but when this task is over he assistsin providing the family v/ith food. When the young birds are strong enoughto get their

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