ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — HYDRANASSA. 41 



and graceful in movements, of its family. Its measured step is so light tliat it leaves 

 no impression on the sand. It feeds on insects, fish, snails, lizards, and the like, 

 and nothing escapes its notice, its quick eye instantly detecting any object available 

 for food, from a small fly on a blade of grass, to the minnow in the wave. 



It is said to be a constant resident in the southern part of Florida, seldom rambling 

 far from its haunts in the winter season, and at that period rarely seen beyond 

 Savannah, to the east. To the west, it extends to the broad, sedgy flats that border 

 the mouths of the Mississippi, along the whole Gulf of Mexico, and farther south. 

 In the spring it is found abundantly in the Carolinas, and even as far east as Mary- 

 land, and up the jNIississippi River as far as Natchez. It is never found inland 

 farther than forty miles from the sea. It is eminently a social bird, and moves about 

 in company with the White Egret or the Blue Heron. It frequently associates with 

 the larger species, and breeds in the same places with the White Heron, the Night 

 Heron, and the Yellow-crowned Heron. More frequently, however, it keeps by 

 itself, assembling in immense numbers to breed, and resorting to particular spots for 

 that purpose. 



Mr. Audubon states that he found this species extremely abundant in January at 

 St. Augustine ; but after a hard frost of a few days all had disappeared, the other 

 Herons remaining, apparently unaffected by the cold : it returned again, however, when 

 the thermometer rose to 80°, and was in full spring plumage by the end of February. 

 Though timid, it is much less shy than most of the other species, and is more easily 

 procured ; and on account of its apparent insensibility to danger is called, in Lower 

 Louisiana, Egrette foUe. 



The flight of this Heron is described as light, rather irregular, swifter than that 

 of any other species, and capable of being considerably protracted. It moves in long 

 files, widely separated, in an undulating manner, and with constant flappings. When 

 proceeding to or from their roosting-places, or when on their migrations, this species 

 passes as high over the country as any of the other Herons. On being shot at, it 

 seldom flies to a great distance ; and its attachment to a particular place is such, that 

 you are sure to find it there during its stay. If one of its number is wounded, it 

 sympathizes with its companion, and keeps about in the manner of the Gulls and 

 Terns, and a number may in this manner be obtained. 



On the 29th of April, in visiting one of the Florida Keys, IVIr. Audubon came 

 upon one of the breeding-places of this Heron. The southern exposures of the island 

 were overgrown with low trees and bushes, matted together with smilax and other 

 vines, intermingled with which were several kinds of cactus. Among the branches 

 were several hundred nests of this species, so low and so close that several would be 

 within reach at once. Tlie birds made loud and bitter complaints at being disturbed. 

 The nests were forined of small dry sticks crossing each other in various ways. 

 They were flat, had but little lining, and each nest contained three eggs ; and this 

 number Mr. Audubon thinks is never exceeded. He gives as the measurement, a 

 length of one inch and six and a half twelfths, and a breadth of an inch and a quar- 

 ter. The period of incubation is twenty-one days ; and he expresses the opinion 

 that but one brood is raised in a season. The notes of the young bird are extremely 

 plaintive, and resemble the syllables iviee-iviee-iviee. When taken by the hand, the 

 young bird defends itself to the utmost. Several were caught and kept in confine- 

 ment on the vessel ; they fed on any garbage thrown to them by the sailors. Mr. 

 Audubon found this species breeding as far to the eastward as Charleston, S. C. 

 During the summer and autumn, after the old birds have separated from their young, 

 it is frequently seen among tlie rice-fields feeding along the ditches, and at this sea- 



VOL. I. — 6 



