THE GREAT WHITE HERON. 541 







among the mangroves that bordered the Key on which we were, and immediately pursued it. 

 Had you been looking on, good reader, you might have enjoyed a hearty laugh, although few 

 of us could have joined you. Seven or eight persons were engaged in the pursuit of this single 

 bird, which, witli extended neck, wings, and legs, made off among the tangled trees at such a 

 rate, that, anxious as I was to obtain it alive, I several times thought of shooting it. At length, 

 however, it was caught, its bill was securely tied, its legs were drawn up, and fastened by a 

 strong cord, and the poor thing was thus conveyed to Indian Key, and placed along with its 

 kinsfolk. On seeing it, the latter immediately ran towards it w T ith open bills, and greeted it 

 with a most friendly welcome, passing their heads over and under its own in the most curious 

 and, indeed, ludicrous manner. A bucketful of fish was thrown to them, which they swallowed 

 in a few minutes. After a few days, they also ate pieces of pork-rind, cheese, and other 

 substances. 



"While sailing along the numerous islands that occur between Indian Key and Key West, 

 I saw many birds of this species, some in pairs, some single, and others in flocks ; but on no 

 occasion did I succeed in getting within shot of one. Mr. Egan consoled me by saying that he 

 knew some places beyond Key West where I certainly should obtain several, were we to spend 

 a day and a night there for the purpose. Dr. Benjamin Strobel afterwards gave me a similar 

 assurance. In the course of a week after reaching Key West, I, in fact, procured more than a 

 dozen birds of different ages, as well as nests and eggs, and their habits were carefully exam- 

 ined by several of my party. 



"At three o'clock, one morning, you might have seen Mr. Egan and myself, about eight 

 miles from our harbor, paddling as silently as possible over some narrow and tortuous inlets, 

 formed by the tides through a large flat and partially submerged Key. There we expected to 

 find many White Herons ; but our labor was for a long time almost hopeless, for, although 

 other birds occurred, we had determined to shoot nothing but the Great White Heron, and 

 none of that species came near us. At length, after six or seven hours of hard labor, a Heron 

 flew right over our heads, and, to make sure of it, we both fired at once. The bird came down 

 dead. It proved to be a female, which had either been sitting on her eggs, or had lately 

 hatched her young, her belly being bare, and her plumage considerably worn. We now rested 

 awlu'le, and breakfasted on some biscuit soaked in molasses and water, reposing under the 

 shade of the mangroves, where the mosquitoes had a good opportunity of breaking their fast 

 also. We went about from one Key to another, saw a great number of White Herons, and at 

 length, towards night, reached the Marion-, rather exhausted, and having a solitary bird. Mr. 

 Egan and I had been most of the time devising schemes for procuring others with less trouble, 

 a task which might easily have been accomplished a month before, when, as he said, the birds 

 were 'sitting hard.' He asked if I would return that night at twelve o'clock to the last Key 

 which we had visited. I mentioned the proposal to our worthy Captain, who, ever willing to 

 do all in his power to oblige me, when the service did not require constant attendance on board, 

 said that if I would go, he would accompany us in the gig. Our guns were soon cleaned, pro- 

 visions and ammunition placed in the boats, and after supping we talked and laughed until 

 the appointed time. 



"'Eight Bells' made us bound on our feet, and off we pushed for the islands. The 

 moon shone bright in the clear sky ; but as the breeze had died away, we betook ourselves 

 to our oars. The state of the tide was against us, and we had to drag our boats several 

 miles over the soapy shallows ; but at last we found ourselves in a deep channel beneath the 

 hanging mangroves of a large Key, where we had observed the Herons retiring to roost the 

 previous evening. There we lay quietly until daybreak. But the mosquitoes and sandflies ! 

 Reader, if you have not been in such a place, you cannot easily conceive the torments we 

 endured for a whole hour, when it was absolutely necessary for us to remain perfectly motion- 

 less. At length day dawned, and the boats parted, to meet on the other side of the Key. 

 Slowly and silently each advanced. A Heron sprung from its perch almost directly over our 

 heads. Three barrels w r ere discharged, in vain ; the bird flew on unscathed ; the pilot and I 

 had probably been too anxious. As the bird sped away, it croaked loudly, and the noise, 



