8 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



with their entire similarity of size and form, render it extremely probable that the case of Ardea 

 rufa, Boddaert, and A. " Pealei," Bonaparte, is repeated in the present instance ; these two supposed 

 species in all probability being, as has been incontestably proven with rufa and " Pealei," " dichro- 

 matic " phases of the same species. The facts bearing directly upon the case have already been 

 given at length elsewhere,^ and are too voluminous to reproduce here. 



The Great White Heron, so far as we are aware, has a residence restricted to 

 Florida and the West India Islands. It was first met with by Mr. Audubon at Indian 

 Key, Florida, in April, 1832. Although generally unmolested by man at that time, 

 he found it shy, and extremely difficult to procure. Sometimes it would rise when 

 at the distance of half a mile, and fly out of sight ; and it was im])ossible to approach 

 one while perched or standing in the water. He found it a constant resident on the 

 Florida Keys, and more abundant there during the breeding season than anywhere 

 else. It was rare as far eastward as Cape Florida. It has, however, been seen in 

 Southern Illinois, and may have a more extended distribution. It pairs early in 

 March, but many did not lay their eggs until the middle of April. Their nests were 

 usually found at considerable distance from each other, although many were found 

 on the same keys. They were generally only a few feet above high-water mark, were 

 quite large, averaging about three feet in diameter, built of sticks, without any lining, 

 quite flat, and several inches thick. He was informed that incubation lasted about 

 thirty days. Both birds sit, the female being the most assiduous, with their legs 

 stretched out before them. The young, from ten days to a month old, showed no 

 signs of a crest, and were pure white, Avith a tinge of cream-color ; and even those 

 that had been kept more than a year exhibited nothing of the kind. It is described 

 as quite sedate, and less animated than the herodias. It walks with fii-mness and 

 great elegance, collects in flocks at its breeding grounds, sometimes a hundred or 

 more being seen together, betaking themselves to the mud-flats and sandbars at a 

 distance from the keys, on which they roost and breed. It is diurnal in its habits, as 

 our observations appeared to show. While on the banks it stands motionless, wait- 

 ing until its prey comes near ; and then it strikes it and swallows it alive, or when 

 large beats it on the water or shakes it violently. It remains on its feeding-ground 

 until driven off by the tide. When roosting it stands on one foot, the other being 

 lifted up, di'aws in its long neck, and places its head under its wing. When sur- 

 prised it leaves its perch with a rough croaking sound, and flies directly to a great 

 distance, but never inland. Its flight is said to be firm, regular, and greatly pro- 

 tracted. It propels itself by regular slow flaj)S, the head being drawn in after it has 

 proceeded a few yards, and its legs extended behind. It occasionally rises high in 

 the air, where it sails in wide circles, and rarely re-alights without performing this 

 circling flight. 



Mr. Audubon carried several of these herons, taken when quite young, alive with 

 him to Charleston. Tavo that had been allowed the liberty of the deck killed and 

 devoured the young of other and smaller species ; and when placed in a coop with 

 young of the herodias, would have killed the latter if they had not been separated. 

 Two others, which had been kept in confinement on Indian Key, he found with their 

 bills very much broken by the force with which they struck at the fish throAvn to 

 them on the rock of their enclosure. They never evinced the least animosity towards 

 one another, but would on every occasion seek to attack and kill those of other 



1 See Bulletin of the IJ. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey of the Territories, Vol. IV. No. 1 (Feb. 5, 1878), 

 pp. 229-230, and Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. VII. No. 1 (January, 1882), 

 pp. 1-6. 



