. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . secondary, reddish brown; the wing-covertswhite. The naked cheeks and temples are of a delicate rose color ; and theyellow filaments of its crest terminate in blackish pencils. This bird comesfrom the coast of Africa and the Cape de Verd Islands. It grows to theheight of four feet. As it runs, it stretches out its wings, and goes veryswiftly, otherwise its usual motion is very slow. In their domestic state,they walk very deliberately among other poultry, and suf
. The naturalist's library; containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds, birds, fishes, reptiles and insects; . secondary, reddish brown; the wing-covertswhite. The naked cheeks and temples are of a delicate rose color ; and theyellow filaments of its crest terminate in blackish pencils. This bird comesfrom the coast of Africa and the Cape de Verd Islands. It grows to theheight of four feet. As it runs, it stretches out its wings, and goes veryswiftly, otherwise its usual motion is very slow. In their domestic state,they walk very deliberately among other poultry, and suffer themselves to beapproached by every spectator. They never roost in houses; but aboutnight, when they are disposed to go to rest, they search out some high wall,on which they perch in the manner of a peacock. Indeed, they so much re-semble that bird in manners and disposition, that some have described themby the name of the sea peacock. But thougli their voice and roosting besimilar, their food, which is entirely greens, vegetables, and barley, seems tomake some difference. 1 Grus pavoniva, Temm. 62S AVES-HERON. THE HERON.». The common heron is remarkably light in proportion to its bulk, scarcelyweighing three pounds and a half, yet it expands a breadth of wing whicbis rive feet from tip to tip. Its bill is very long, being five inches from thepoint to the base ; its claws are long, sharp, and the middlemost toothed likea saw. Yet, thus armed as it appears for war, it is indolent and cowardly,and flies even at the approach of a sparrow-hawk. When driven to ex-tremity, however, it shakes off its timidity, and displays both courage andskill. When its antagonist succeeds in rising above it, which is not easilydone, the heron doubles his neck backward under hiswing, and turns hisbill upward, like a bayonet. In this manner, he sometimes contrives totransfix even the powerful sea eagle. Of all birds, this commits the greatest devastation in fresh water; andthere is scarcely a fis
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectnaturalhistory, booky
