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AVES— HERON. ..BITTERN. 



great distance; his neck doubled, his head drawn in, and his long legs 

 stretched out in a long line behind him, appearing like a tail, and probably 

 serving the same rudder-like office. 



THE BLUE HERON* 



Is properly a native of the warmer climates of the United States, migrating 

 thence in winter to the tropical regions ; being found in Cayenne, Jamaica, 

 and Mexico. On the muddy shores of the Mississippi, these birds are fre- 

 quently met with. Though in the northern states they are found chiefly in 

 the neighborhood of the ocean, they are yet particularly fond of fresh water 

 bogs on the edges of the salt marsh. These it often frequents, wading about 

 in search of tadpoles, lizards, various larvae of winged insects, and mud 

 worms. It moves actively about in search of these, sometimes makiag 

 a run at its prey, and is often seen in company with the little white heron. 



There are also found in the United States, the little white heron, the green 

 heron, the Louisiana heron, and the yellow-crowned heron. 



THE BITTERN. 2 



Those who have walked in an evening, by the sedgy sides of unfrequented 

 rivers, must remember a variety of notes from different waterfowls. But 

 of all those sounds, there is none so dismally hollow as the booming of the 



1 Ardea ccEerulea, Lin. 



2 Ardea stellaris, Lin. 



