146 BULLETIN 135^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Fall migration. — Late dates of departure are: Oregon, Klamath 

 Falls, October 31, 1912; California, Clear Lake, September 22, 1911, 

 and Mona Lake, September 21, 1901; Louisiana, New Orleans, 

 December 19, 1893 (possibly wintering) ; New Jersey, Audubon, 

 September 4, 1912; District of Columbia, Washington, September 

 22, 1914; Maryland, Ocean City, September 23, 1894; and South 

 Carolina, Charleston, November 6, 1913. 



Casual records. — In common with many other species of herons, 

 the egret frequently migrates in summer long distances north of its 

 normal breeding range. Specimens have been collected at this sea- 

 son north to Manitoba (Lake Winnipegosis, summer of 1888) ; Minne- 

 sota (Lanesboro, July 21, 1884, and Wilder, June 16, 1894) ; Ontario 

 (Rockliffe, spring of 1883, and Dundas County, August 3, 1916); 

 Quebec (Montreal and Godbout) ; New Brunswick (Grand Manan, 

 August, 1879); and Nova Scotia (Halifax, summer of 1867). In ad- 

 dition to these northernmost records there are numerous occurrences 

 for Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, 

 Rhode Island, and the other New England States, including Maine. 



Egg dates. — Flordia: 36 records, December 8 to June 14; 18 records, 

 March 29 to May 1 . Texas : 15 records, April 4 to May 20 ; 8 records, 

 April 14 to May 1(). Oregon: 8 records, April 16 to June 28. 



EGRETTA CANDIDISSIMA CANDIDISSIMA (Gmelin) 

 SNOWY EGRET 



HABITS 



This beautiful little heron, one of nature's daintiest and most 

 exquisite creatures, is the most charming of all our marsh birds. The 

 spotless purity of its snowy plumage, adorned with airy, waving 

 plumes, and its gentle, graceful manners, make it the center of 

 attraction wherever it is seen. While darting about in the shallow 

 water in pursuit of its lively prey, its light curving plumes fluttering 

 in the breeze, it is a pretty picture of lovely animation. The full 

 display of all its glory is seen as it approaches its nest to greet its 

 mate or its young with all of the glorious plumes of its head, breast, 

 and back erected and spread, like a filmy fan. It seems conscious 

 of its beauty and likes to show off its charms for the benefit of 

 its loved ones. No wonder that lovely woman appreciates the beauty 

 of the plumes and longs to appropriate them to add to her own 

 charms. 



Courtship. — The display of plumes, referred to above, is a part of 

 the courtship performance, where it is seen at its best, but it is also 

 used all through the breeding season as a greeting to its mate or its 

 young. In the full display the body is bent forward and downward, 

 the neck is held in a graceful curve, the feathers of the head are 

 raised in a vertical crest, the breast plumes are spread forward and 



