THE ALLIES OF THE PIGEON 



383 



One of our largest species is the great blue heron, which 

 stands nearly five feet high. Several herons, called egrets 

 (Fig. 200), which have the misfortune to grow beautiful 

 dorsal plumes, or "aigrets," at the breeding season, have 

 been practically exterminated by man for the sake of their 

 plumes for women's hats. Fortunately, federal laws now 



Fig. 200. Photograph of egrets 



prohibit the slaughter of these birds and the sale of their 

 feathers. Egrets were formerly common in Florida and 

 along the Gulf coast. Storks are natives of the Old World, 

 frequenting wooded regions or open country. The white 

 stork has been tamed in some countries, where it frequently 

 occupies nesting sites on houses. 



Cranes and Allies. Though superficially like the herons, 

 in that they have a long bill, neck, and legs, the cranes and 

 their allies may nevertheless be distinguished from the herons 

 by the elevation of the hind toe above the level of the others. 

 The cranes are scattered widely over the globe, though we 



