AVES — HERON. 631 



emptied of their inhabitants, who disperse in quest of food. On entering 

 one of these swamps, the noise of the old and young would almost lead one 

 to suppose that two or three hundred Indians were choking each other. The 

 instant an intruder is discovered, the whole rise in the air in silence, and 

 remove to the tops of the trees, in another part of the woods ; while par- 

 ties of from eight to ten make occasional circuits over the spot to see what 

 is going on. 



The food of the night heron, or qua bird, is chiefly composed of small fish, 

 which it takes at night. 



THE GREAT EGRET HERON 1 



Is often seen in summer in our low marshes and inundated meadows ; yet, 

 on account of its extreme vigilance, it is very difficult to be procured. It is 

 found from Guiana, and probably beyond the line, to New York. It enters 

 the territories of the United States late in February. The high inland parts 

 of tbe country it rarely or never visits. Its favorite haunts are vast inun- 

 dated swamps, rice fields, the low marshy shores of rivers, and such like 

 places; where, from its size and color, it is very conspicuous even at a dis- 

 tance. The food consists of frogs, lizards, small fish, insects, and small 

 water snakes, &c. They will also devour mice and moles. The plumage 

 of this elegant bird is of a snowy Avhiteness ; the bill of a rich orange yel- 

 low ; and the legs black. 



THE GREAT HERON* 



Is a constant inhabitant of the Atlantic coast, from New York to Florida. 

 They breed in the Carolinas and New Jersey, in the gloomy solitudes of 

 cedar swamps, where, if unmolested, they will annually breed for many 

 years. Their nests are constructed on the tallest trees. These are large, 

 formed of sticks ; each occupies the top of a single tree. The principal 

 food of this bird is fish, for which he watches with unwearied patience, and 

 seizes them with surprising dexterity. At the edge of a river, pond, or sea- 

 shore, he stands fixed and motionless. But his stroke is as sure as fate to 

 the first fish that comes in his way. He is also an excellent mouser, and 

 feeds eagerly on grasshoppers and various winged insects. 



The heron has great powers of wing, flying sometimes very high, and to a 



1 Ardea egretta, Wilson. 2 Ardea Herodias, Lm. 



