HERON FAiAIILY 



193 



I'huLograpn by A. A. Allen 



GREEN HERON 

 At its nest in the willows fringing a pond 



catcliing fi^h, frogs, salamanders, ami tlu- like, 

 he is very far from stupid or cluiiisy. Tlu-n he 

 steps along in the shallow water or through the 

 weeds with true Heron stealth, and the thrust of 

 his long bill, as he seizes his prey, is as accurate 

 as and a great deal quicker than that of an expert 

 swordsman. When flushed to a perch, the bird 

 has a curious habit, if it sees it is observed, of 



suddenly becoming absolutely rigid. 



" fr 



ing," to use the term commonly employed. This 

 apparently is done for the purpose of escaping 

 further observation. It is an interesting fact 

 that young Herons, at a signal from the old bird, 

 often employ the same ruse, and stand as motion- 

 less as statues, sometimes until the intruder has 

 approached to within a few feet. 



Unlike other members of its family, the Green 

 Heron is not gregarious in its breeding habits. 

 Occasionally a few birds jilace their nests near 

 together, but this ajiparently is accidental, for 

 there are no true rookeries of Green Herons, and 

 the liirds lead a distinctiv lonelv life. 



Phot 



Ijy S. \. Lot 



YOUNG GREEN HERONS 

 Removed from the nest by the photographei 



