300 GREAT WHITE HERON. 



but on a closer examination, its rudiments were plainly to be perceived, 

 extending several inches bejond the common plumage. 



The Great White Heron breeds in several of the extensive cedar 

 swamps in the lower parts of New Jersey. Their nests are built on the 

 trees, in societies ; the structure and materials exactly similar to those 

 of tlic Snowy Heron, but larger. The eggs are usually four, of a pale 

 blue color. In the months of July and August, the young make their 

 first appearance in the meadows and marshes, in parties of twenty or 

 thirtv toirether. The large ditches with which the extensive meadows 

 below Philadelphia are intersected, arc regularly, about that season, 

 visited by flocks of those birds ; these are frequently shot ; but the old 

 ones are too sagacious to be easily approached. Their food consists of 

 frogs, lizards, small fish, insects, seeds of the splatter-dock (a species 

 of Nymphce), and small water snakes. They will also devour mice and 

 moles, the remains of such having been at difierent times found in their 

 stomachs. 



The long plumes of these birds have at various periods been in great 

 request, on the continent of Europe, particularly in France and Italy, 

 for the purpose of ornamenting the female head-dress. When dyed of 

 various colors, and tastefully fashioned, they form a light and elegant 

 duster and mosquito brush. The Indians prize them for ornamenting 

 their hair, or topknot ; and I have occasionally observed these people 

 wandering through the market place of New Orleans, with bunches of 

 those feathers for sale. 



The Great White Heron measures five feet from the extremities of 

 the Avings, and three feet six inches from the tip of the bill to the end 

 of the tail ; the train extends seven or eight inches farther. This train 

 is composed of a great number of long, thick, tapering shafts, arising 

 from the lower part of the shoulders, and thinly furnished on each side 

 with fine flowing hair-like threads, of several inches in length, covering 

 the lower part of the back, ami falling gracefully over the tail, which it 

 entirely conceals. The whole plumage is of a snowy whiteness, except 

 the train, which is slightly tinged Avith yellow. The bill is nearly six 

 inches in length, of a rich orange yellow, tipped with black ; irides a 

 paler orange, pupil small, giving the bird a sharp and piercing aspect; 

 the legs are long, stout, and of a black color, as is the bare s{)ace of 

 four inches above the knee ; the span of the foot measures upwards of 

 six inches ; the inner edge of the middle claw is pectinated ; the exte- 

 rior and middle toes are united at the base for about half an inch, by a 

 membrane. 



The articulations of the vertebra; are remarkably long ; the intestines 

 measure upwards of eight feet, and are 'very narrow. The male and 

 female are alike in plumage ; both, when of full age, having the train 

 equally long. 



