Before
Belon's time, on the contrary, and before the "divine" constructor of
heronries in France was born, there were express laws enacted in
England for the protection of herons, it being a fine of ten shillings
to take the young out of the nests,[6] and six shillings and
eightpence for a person, without his own grounds, killing a heron,
except by hawking or by the long-bow;[7] while, in subsequent
enactments, the latter penalty was increased to twenty shillings, or
three months' imprisonment.[8] At present, however, in consequence of
the discontinuance of hawking, little attention is paid to the
protection of heronries. Not to know a hawk from a _heronshaw_ (the
former name for a heron) was an old adage, which arose when the
diversion of heron-hawking was in high fashion. It has since been
corrupted into the absurd vulgar proverb, "not to know a hawk from a
handsaw!"[9] The flesh of the heron is now looked upon as of little
value, and rarely if ever brought to market, though formerly a heron
was estimated at thrice the value of a goose, and six times the price
of a partridge.[10]
[5] Oiseaux, p 189.
[6] 19 Henry VII. c. 11.
[7] Ibid.
[8] I James, c. 27, s. 2.
[9] Pennant, Brit. Zool. ii. 341.
[10] Northumberland Household Book, p. 104.
The heronries recorded to be existing at present in this country are
in Windsor Great Park, on the borders of Bagshot Heath; at
Penshurst-place, Kent; at Hutton, the seat of Mr.
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