Heron, Rochester Bestiary, c.1230

The medieval bestiary records that herons fly to great heights as they hate the rain and will fly above the clouds to avoid a storm. When they take flight it is a warning that a storm is coming. They feed from the water but nest in the trees and will defend their young in the nest by pecking at other birds that threaten them (Barber 2008).

Transcription

Translation

Ardea licet in canone non inveniatur; tamen
quia eius in ores nos instruunt; pauca
de ea dicemus. Ardea igitur dicitur; quasi ardua.
propter altos volatus. Unde lucanus. Quodque
ausa avolare ardea. Formidat enim inibres.
et super nubes evolat; ut procellas imbrium
sentire non possit. Cum autem altius volave-
rit; significat tempestatem. Hanc multi tanta;

Heron may not be found in the canon; yet because they instruct us in his mouth; we will say a little about it. Therefore it is called heron; as if steep because of high flights. Hence Lucanus. And whatever dares to fly away burns. For he fears the clouds, and flies above the clouds; so that he cannot feel the storms of rain. But when he flew higher; it means the storm. This is so great for many;

61r

lum vocant. Quia tantalus inter aquas
secundum fabulas dicitur esse. Hec enim avis similis
grui in longitudine tibiarum et colli; iuxta
flumina libenter habitat. stanset sollicite in-
quirens piscem aliquem sibi fore predam. et di-
citur romane heyrun. Hec avis bene con-
tempatiuum significat. cuius vita est in celestibus
et remota a tempestate curarum seculi; iuxta
fluenta sacre scripture residentem inde sibi spi-
ritualem cibum unde anima vivat elicien-
tem

they call it light. Because tantalum is said to be among the waters according to the fables. For this bird is like a crane in the length of its legs and neck; He lives happily by the rivers, he would stand anxiously inquiring whether some fish would be prey for him, and is called heyrun in Roman. This bird signifies the well-tempered, whose life is in the heavens and removed from the stormy cares of the age; residing next to the flowing sacred scriptures, extracting for himself the spiritual food from which the soul lives.