30 ALTRICIAL GEALLATORES — HERODIO^'ES. 



iucludiug the West India Islands, Mexico, and Central America. It is also found 

 distributed through the interior as far north as Oregon and the Great Lakes. INIr. 

 Salvin found it (;[uite common on the Atlantic coast of Central America, and states 

 that it also occasionally visited the Lake of Duenas in the interior. When observed 

 it was usually in companies. On the coast of Honduras he visited one of the breed- 

 ing places of this species, but the nests were mostly deserted, as all the young birds 

 of those still inliabited were able to run along the branches and make their escape. 

 The nests were composed entirely of sticks, and placed near the end of a horizontal 

 bough. He also found this species abundant on the racilic coast of Guatemala. It 

 occasionally visits Bermuda, both in the spring and in the fall. Leotaud sj^eaks of 

 it as a very common, and once a very abundant, bird in Trinidad, where it frequents 

 the borders of the sea and the vicinity of streams and marshes affected by the influ- 

 ences of the tides. Its habits are said to be very similar to those of the larger 

 egretta. Its numbers were rapidly diminishing, and it promised soon to become an 

 extinct species in that island. It is given by Dr. Gundlach as an abundant species 

 in Cuba, Avhere it is resident, and breeds in large communities. In Jamaica, accord- 

 ing to Gosse, it is not so common, and occurs chiefly as a visitant in midwinter. Mr, 

 March mentions it as of frequent occurrence. Mr. C. W. Wyatt found it in Colom- 

 bia, S. A., on the borders of Lake Paturia. Dr. Ikirmeister found it throughout the 

 region of the La Plata even more numerous than the Herodias egretta, especially in 

 the more westerly portions. 



This species is found in the summer months as far to the northeast as Calais, Me., 

 and a few straggle up the Bay of Pundy, even to the extreme eastern arm of that 

 bay at Windsor, IST. S. J. Matthew Jones states that it has been recently (1868) 

 captured on the sea-coast of that province, near Halifax. A specimen was taken at 

 Windsor, N. S., in the summer of 1872. 



On Long Island, according to Giraud, it occurs during the summer months, but is 

 not abundant. Yet it is by no means uncommon, and is well known to most of the 

 gunners. It is said to frequent the salt marshes in small ])arties, and may be seen 

 wading about over the mud-flats and sand-bars, or in the shallow water, in search of 

 small crabs, lizards, and worms, which, with several species of aquatic plants, con- 

 stitute its principal food. The Snowy Heron always feeds by day ; and when wading 

 about in search of its favorite food, or while making short excursions, it is rendered 

 so conspicuous by the snowy whiteness of its plumage, that it seldom passes unob- 

 served by the gunners. It visits Long Island late in the spring, and may be seen on 

 the salt marshes until late in the autumn, though it usually migrates southwards in 

 the last of September. It is not ])Ositively knoAvn to breed on any part of Long 

 Island. 



In August, 1863, Mr. Dresser saw large flocks of this Heron visiting the lagoons 

 near Matamoras, in such large numbers that on one occasion he killed thirteen at one 

 discharge. In the spring of 1864 lie noticed several near San Antonio, and found a 

 few breeding on Glalveston Island in June, and received one from Fort Stockton. 



Dr. Cooper speaks of it as common, at all seasons, along the southern coast of Cali- 

 fornia. In summer it migrates to the summits of the Sierra oSTevada, to Lake Tahoe, 

 and probably throughout California and Oregon. He has always found it very shy, 

 more so even than the larger white one. About the end of April it migrates to some 

 extent from the southern parts of the State in large flocks, but he has met with it in 

 July near San Pedro, when he supposed that it was nesting in the mountains, or 

 some other retired places, in the vicinity. 



About the middle of May, Wilson visited an extensive breeding place of this Heron 



