200 Bird -Lore 



is by no means always the case. Go to the great colonies of nesting Herons 

 and Ibises in the southern swamps and, among the hundreds, or often thou- 

 sands, of birds collected here, you will find now and then a nest of the modest 

 little Green Heron occupying some inconspicuous spot in one of the willow 

 or cypress trees. 



Every bird in the world, as probably every other wild creature, has its 

 natural enemies. Something is ever on the alert to prey upon it. Every 

 Sparrow, Wren, Warbler, Thrush, Hawk, and even the re- 

 Enemfes sourceful and powerful Eagle, must keep a sharp lookout that 



some foe does not catch it or destroy its eggs and young. The 

 Green Heron is no exception to this rule. Foxes, also minks and weasels, pos- 

 sibly catch this bird now and then. The nesting season, however, must be the 

 period of greatest anxiety for them. Although the cradle for the eggs is always 

 well hidden in the rushes or among the foliage of bushes and trees, it is never- 

 theless often discovered by" sharp-eyed wild hunters when out in search of 

 good things to eat. Crows, which know so well how to look out for their own 

 interests, every year steal many Herons' eggs from the nests. The Fish Crow, 

 which is a slightly smaller bird than the common Crow that is usually seen, 

 and which is particularly numerous along the seacoast, as well as in the 

 neighborhood of large ponds, lakes and rivers, is a wonderfully successful egg- 

 hunter. When this bird goes out for an omelet, it flies across the country or 

 slips through the trees in a most crafty and silent manner. Finding a 

 Heron's nest, it will cunningly withdraw, and return at a time when the parent 

 bird is temporarily away, taking a rest or looking for food. 



Then comes the Crow. With a strong, plunging stroke it will dive its 

 bill into an egg, and fly off with it without a sound. Often it will alight on the 

 limb of some tree nearby and proceed at once to enjoy its repast. Sometimes, 

 however, it will fly a long distance with its booty before stopping. Once I 

 saw a plucky Kingbird attack a Crow which was carrying on its bill a Green 

 Heron's egg. The fierce little black fighter boldly attacked the marauder, 

 which was many times its size, and drove it for fully a quarter of a mile. The 

 Crow flew with all its power in its efforts to get away from its tormentor. The 

 Kingbird followed fast, and frequently ranging along above it would dart 

 down at the head and back of the Crow. In desperation, the egg-hunter 

 finally dropped its load, and at length escaped to the friendly shelter of a 

 thick pine tree. The egg chanced to fall into a pool of water, and I picked 

 it up unbroken. In one side was a hole about the size of the end of a man's 

 finger. This had been made by the bill of the feathered robber. 



When the Green Heron builds its nest in bushes growing over or near the 

 surface of a pond or lake, there is always danger from water moccasins, 

 which are very fond of birds' eggs, and, when hungry, they often make sad 

 work in the small Heron's nest. 



It is a perfectly well understood fact that there would undoubtedly be 



