228 CURSORES. 



by day. Here, as they arrive singly or a few at a 

 time, a good opportunity is afforded the naturalist 

 to study some of their habits. In the selection of a 

 breeding place, they generally assemble in small com- 

 panies of from twenty to fifty, and appropriate a 

 clump of cedars, cypress, or mangrove, according 

 to the locality which they inhabit, where their nests 

 sometimes crowd the branches to within a few feet 

 of the ground. These Heronries are mostly upon 

 the borders of some stagnant pools or in the vicinity 

 of cedar, cypress, and other swamps, as well as upon 

 the shores of those sea-islands which are covered 

 with evergreens. The nests are large, and irregu- 

 larly formed of sticks placed one above another, to 

 the height of a few inches ; their structure is some- 

 times so slight as to tumble to pieces before the young 

 are fit to fly. These birds, when once in possession 

 of a breeding place suited to their tastes, will return 

 to it annually, and repair the old nests, until circum- 

 stances force them to abandon it.* 



The Great White Egret is another of those elegant 

 and stately birds with which our water scenery is 

 often beautified. Along the banks of our great riv- 

 ers, and sometimes of our smaller streams and mill- 

 ponds, groups of these fairy-looking creatures may 

 frequently be seen, wading at their leisure among 

 the tall reeds and other plants which abound in the 

 shallow water. Here, with untiring patience, they 

 move about slowly and cautiously, awaiting the ap- 

 yearance of some unlucky fish, or water animals of 



* Audubon. 



