Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/494

462&#93; 4 5 2 ] HER o.iid to be useful in inflammations of the eyes ; and both the leaves and berries possess similar pro- perties with opium. — According to Lixxjeus, the root of the Herb - Paris may be employed as a sub- stitute for Ipecacuanha; for it ex- cites vomiting, if given in a double proportion. — Bohmer remarks, that the dried leaves impart a flue yellow colour to yarn or linen-cloth, which has been pre- pared in alum-water. HERB -ROBERT, or Fetid Cranes-bill, Geranium Rolertia- mnn, L. an indigenous annual plant, growing on walls, hed es, rubbish, and stony places ; flow- ering from May to October. This herb is in great repute among many farmers, for its efficacy against the staling of blood, and the bloody flux in cattle; in which cases it is said to be preferable to most of the remedies used on such occasions. In Germany, the Herb-Robert is employed in the process of tan- ning ; and Damboukney obtained from this, as well as all the other species of Geranium, a more or less durable yellow dye. Here-Twopence. SeeCKEEP- ing Loose-strife. HERON, the Common, or Ar- dea major, L. a predatory bird, which has a small lean body, but is provided with long legs, and a sharp-pointed bill. The male heron is a very elegant bird ; its forehead, crown, and upper part of the neck, are white; the head is adorned with a pendent t of long black feathers ; be- neath the covers of the wings it aUo has a fine black plumage. 'ilie female, however, is not so handsome; she builds her nest e.ther in trees, or in high dill's over the sea, and forms it of HER sticks lined with wool : in the* month of February, she deposits five or six large eggs of a pal» gre^n colour. Herons were formerly much esteemed as a delicacy at the table, but their flesh has a stiong taste of fish. They attain an age some- times exceeding sixty years, and are very gi'eat devourers of fis 1, so that they occasion more mis- chief in a pond than otters. One heron will swallow fifty dace or roaches of a mo lerate size in a day ; and it has been known to" devour a thousand store-carp in a year. When it is ascertained thai one of these rapacious birds visits a fish-pond, he might be taken in a mann r similar to that practised in caiching pike. For this purposej three or tour small roach, or dace, are to be procured, and each should be fastened on a wire, with a strong hook at the end ; the latter must be connected with the wire just below the gills, and passed imme- diately under the uppermost skin to the tail. Tims, the fish will be preserved alive for several d.iys ; a precaution which is essentially ne- cessary ; because, if dead, the he- ron will not attempt to bite. Next, a strong line about two yards long is to be prepared of sdk and wive twisted together, one end of wnch should be fastened to the wire con* nected with the hook, and the other to a stone of about a pound weight : — three or four of such baits being placed in different shallow parts of the pond, it is very pro- bable that the mischievous bird will be speeddy taken by this stra- tagem. HERRING, or C/upea h<.-n-ii»w?, L. a well-known fish, generally about seven or eight inches long, though