THE BREEDING HABITS OF THE PURPLE HERON.
By F.B. Whitlock.
In May of the present year I visited a certain district in France where the Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) breeds in moderate numbers. As my experience of the nesting habits of this species differs in some respects from previously published accounts, a few notes should not prove uninteresting.
The district to which I refer should be a paradise for Herons, as numerous large ponds or meres, of one, up to many hundred acres in extent, are scattered over a wide extent of country. All, however, are not favoured as breeding-places by the Herons, and it is only in those which are covered by a dense forest of reeds and other aquatic vegetation that colonies are found.
In a mere of about one hundred acres, occupied by one vast reed bed, and where in the few open spaces round the margins I found the lovely white water-lily growing in profusion, I observed Herons rising at intervals from the thickest portion of the reeds. Having been told that a colony existed here, I determined on making a closer examination. The only plan appearing to be to wade out and force a passage into the reeds to the part to and from which the birds were passing, I naturally carefully took my bearings as I sat on the bank eating my lunch. Once amongst the reeds I could only trust to my sense of direction, as they grew to a height of seven or eight feet above the water. I was glad to find when I commenced to wade that the depth of the water rarely exceeded four feet, and that underfoot was a good firm bottom free from mud.
It was laborious work pressing through the reeds with a mass of vegetation round my waist, and a long tail trailing behind, not to speak of the hot sun overhead, and I must have travelled quite two hundred and fifty yards before putting up a Heron a little distance away to my right. Turning in the latter direction, I found, after five minutes' search, a large nest containing eggs.
