THE BIRD BOOK 



200. Little Blue Heron. Florida cierulea. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north 

 casually to New England and Manitoba; west to 

 Kansas and Nebraska. 



A smaller species than the preceding, length 

 22 inches, plumage a uniform slaty blue chang- 

 ing to purplish red on the head and neck. They 

 also have a white phase, but always show traces 



Little Blue Heron 



Green Heron 



Pale bluish green 



of the slaty blue, especially on the primaries. 

 ^'oung birds are always white. They breed in 

 immense rookeries during April and May. Their 

 nesting habits and eggs are very similar to the 

 last species, although the eggs average a trifle 

 smaller. Size 1.75 x 1.25. Data. — Avery's Island, 

 Louisiana, April 21, 1896. 5 eggs. Nest a flat 

 and frail platform of twigs in a Mimosa tree 

 growing in floating turf, over deep water in a 

 large swamp. Collector, E. A. Mcllhenny. 



201. Green Heron. Butorides virescens 

 virescens. 



Range.^ — Temperate and sub-tropical America, 

 breeding north to the British Provinces. 



This is the smallest of our Herons, and is well known all 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 together, along the border of some 

 swamp or stream. They have a greater diversity 

 of building sites, than do any of the other Herons 

 and frequently nest a long ways from water. 

 Their nests may be found in alders, birches or 

 even apple trees. It is the usual Heron type of 

 platform, upon which the three to six eggs are 

 laid. They are a pale greenish blue in color, and 

 measure 1.45 x 1.10. Data.^ — Avery's Island, Louis- 

 iana, April 10, 1894. 5 eggs on a platform of 

 twigs placed in a willow tree growing on the edge 

 of a pond. Collected by E. A. Mcllhenny. 



124 



Light bluish green 



