North American Birds Eggs. 



97 



199. Louisiana Heron. 



HijflraiKissa tricolor riifirollis. 



the (Jul 



States and casually 

 ijer, more 



Ran^e. — Suhtrojiical America, north regularly t 

 fartlier. 



This Heron is ofaliout the sizeof the Reddish Egret, hut the neck is Ion 

 .slender and dark, while the chin, throat and 

 underparts are white. The plumes from the 

 liack are short, reaching harely to the end of 

 the tail. They nest in large colonies in com- 

 pany with Egrets and Little Blue Herons, 

 placing their nests in the mangroves, only 

 a few feet ahove the water. Their nests are 

 the same as those of the other species, a 

 slight platform of sticks, and the three to 

 five eggs are practically not distinguishahle 

 from thoseof the Snowy or Little Blue Herons. 

 Size 1.75 X 1.35. 



200. Little Blue Heron. FUiri<ht arrnlca. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north casually to New England 

 Manitoba; west to Kansas and Nebraska. 



and 



[Pale bluish green 



A smaller species than tlie preceding, 

 length 22 inches, plumage a uniform slaty 

 blue changing to purplish red on the head 

 and neck. They also have a white phase, 

 but always show traces of the slaty blue, es- 

 pecially on the primaries. Young birds are 

 always wliite. They breed in immense » . 

 rookeries during April and May. Their )p 

 nesting habits and eggs are very similar to Jf' 



the last species, although the eggs average a i \ r% [ 

 tritie smaller. Size 1.75 x l.'^2o. Data.— 'V J^'f',^ 

 Avery's Island, Louisiana, April 21, 1896. /^' /|' 

 5 eggs. Nest a flat and frail platform of ^^-F' 

 twigs in a Mimosa tree growing in floating '^K^^jf^^/, 

 turf, over deep water in a large swamp. ^' jll.i 

 Collector, E.A. Mcllhenny. -^^^■' 



201. Green Heron. Butorides virescens. 



Range.— Temperate and subtropical America, breeding north to the British 

 Provinces. 



This is the smallest of our Herons, and is well 

 known ail over the country. Sometimes they 

 breed in numbers in rookeries, in company with 

 the larger Herons, but in most sections of the 

 country they will be found nesting, one or two 

 pairs togetlier, along the l)order of some swamp 

 or stream. They have a greater diversity of build- 

 ing sites, than do any of the otlier Herons and 

 frequently nest a long ways from water. Their 

 nests may be found in alders, birches or even 

 apple trees. It is theusual Heron typeof platform, [IJcrht bluish ^reen ] 



