138 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



built on bent-down tule stalks much in the same fashion as nests of the ibis. 

 Some were within 1 foot of the water and others nearly 4 feet up. They were 

 large and rather well made of tule stalks and in two instances contained branches 

 of greasewood that must have been carried at least a mile. The nest comple- 

 ment was from three to five in number, usually four. 



A similar method of nesting was noted by George B. Sennett 

 (1878) near Brownsville, Texas. The nests are described as "bulky, 

 composed of the dead and broken down rushes, about 2 feet in dia- 

 meter, and situated from 1 to 3 feet above the water." 



Eggs. — The American egret lays from three to four eggs; I have 

 never seen or heard of any larger sets. In shape they are usually 

 oval with variations to elliptical oval. The shell is smooth with little 

 or no gloss. The color is pale bluish green, varying from "pale Ni- 

 agara green " to "pale oUvine." The measurements of 53 eggs aver- 

 age 56.5 by 40.5 millimeters; the eggs showing the four extremes 

 measure 68.5 by 41, 60 by 43, 52.5 by 39.5, and 53.5 by 38 millimeters. 



Young. — The period of incubation is probably about 23 or 24 days. 

 In nests that are situated at considerable heights the young are 

 inclined to remain until they can fly, but in the lower nests they are 

 much more prccocial and inclined to wander over the immediate sur- 

 roundings of the nest. I have found them much more timid than 

 other young herons and more inclined to leave the nest, to climb 

 with surprising agility over the surrounding branches. I have expe- 

 rienced considerable difficulty in getting near enough to the half 

 grown young to photograph them; they are lively travelers and gen- 

 erally succeed in keeping out of range. 



It is interesting to watch the feeding of the young, as I have seen 

 it from a blind at short range. The young have been crouching 

 quietly in the nest, perhaps asleep or dozing; suddenly their keen 

 eyes, or ears, detect the returning mother bird and they are all alert; 

 excitedly they stretch their long necks and cry for food. At first 

 she stands on or near the nest in a disinterested attitude until she is 

 ready to regurgitate the semidigested food; they become impatient 

 at the delay and peck at her plumage, or rise up and seize her bill 

 shaking it vigorously and worrying her into action; at length she 

 raises her beautiful plumes above her back, a token of her affection, 

 lowers her head and delivers the coveted food. For the younger 

 birds a more or less souplike food, fish chowder, is delivered into the 

 mouth of the young bird ; for older birds a fish only partially digested 

 is deposited on the nest, where it is picked up and swallowed. I have 

 seen two or three small young fed at one feeding. 



Doctor Chapman (1908rt) has described the feeding process very 

 weU, as follows : 



Doubtless, the young birds were not a little puzzled by the unusual reluctance 

 of their parents to administer to their wants. In vain they uttered their froglike 

 kek-kek-kek, and stretched their necks hopefully. The old birds were not assured. 



