that remained built their nests in a small patch of bushes that 

 had been spared when the ground was cleared, and in the trash 

 piles deposited around the borders of the island. 



The disaster which had befallen the heronry became known to 

 local bird lovers in June and an article was published in Ttw News 

 and Cmrier telling the sad story of what had happened. So 

 much interest was at once aroused that a number of people offered 

 to contribute to a fund for the purchase of the island and the re- 

 establishment of the heron colony. The News and Courier an- 

 nounced that it would receive contributions to this fund and in a 

 short time enough money was pledged to permit of the purchase 

 of the island for the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars for 

 the two acre tract. While the land was worth nothing like this 

 sum, it was nevertheless realized that to preserve what was 

 really a natural marvel and one of the most wonderful bird cities 

 in this country justified a large expenditure; and the generosity 

 of those who offered to contribute to the fund was amply large 

 enough to accomplish this end. It was decided that the heronry 

 should be turned over to the Museum to be maintained as a per- 

 manent home for the herons. The Museum will have the co- 

 operation of the Audubon Society in protecting the herons from 

 plume hunters. 



The Museum is now the owner, therefore, of a very wonderful 

 bird city and of one of the largest colonies of the Snowy Egret 

 now in existence. Last summer there were prbably about three 

 hundred Snowies breeding on the island with probably three or 

 four hundred herons of other species. Before the bushes were 

 destroyed the total number of herons on the island was very 

 much larger, estimates varying from three to seven thousand. 

 Apparently, however, the number of Snowies was not sensibly 

 diminished by the removal of the bushes, this species being about 

 as abundant last sunmier as it was the summer before. The 

 birds which deserted the island after it had been cleared were 

 mainly of the commoner species. 



The next work before the Museum in connection with the her- 



62 



