HERON FALLS ON STEAMER.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1921, Page 2

HERON FALLS ON STEAMER.

EXHAUSTED IN MID-OCEAN. A REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE. A grey heron, which belongs to one of the largest types of this bird, was the other day received at the Auckland Museum by the curator, Mr. T. F. Cheeseman. The bird is technically Unown as the Ardea Cinerea, and is dead. It was given to the museum by the commander of the New , Zealand Shipping Co.’s steamer Kaikoura, Captain J. Downton, who brought it across the Pacific Ocean during his recent voyage from England. The heron, states Captain Downton, flew on board in the North Atlantic at a position lat. 30 degrees north, long 51 degrees west, approximately mid-way between the Bermudas and the Azores, at a distance of at least 1000 miles from the nearest land. Its appearance in this position is considered very remarkable, and Mr. Cheeseman suggested that it must have been attempting to cross the Atlantic when it flew aboard the Kaikoura. Jt was in a very poor condition, being a mere bag of bones —and was thoroughly tired out and quite spent when rescued. After a choice of food from the sailors it decided on fish, and lived on kippers, bloaters, and various fresh fish during the voyage. The date it arrived on board was November 15, and after remaining alive for nearly a month it died on December 11, five days before the Kaikoura steamed into port at Auckland. Its death occurred after a cold wet night, when the captain states he feared it had no proper protection from the weather. It was very well and healthy up to the time of its death, and improved vastly in appearance. For the last five days of the voyage it was kept in the refrigerating chamber, and was taken out at noon to-day when given to the curator.

The total length of the bird when stretched out is approximately sft; the length of the legs, including the thighs, is 22in; and the length of the neck to the top of the head is 19in. The bill is just over Gin. long, and the span ol the wings is sft. Bin. Herons are found in all parts of the world and there are many different species, of which the largest is found in Africa. The gray heron, of which the one given to the Museum is not a fully developed specimen, is found in North Asia, Europe, the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Seas, Africa, and its range stretches across the Atlantic Ocean to North America. Though herons have been known to attempt the flight across the ocean before, the event is in itself most unusual.