90 



ORNITHOLOGIST 



[Vol. IG-No. () 



When I had made a long search the bird 

 fluttered from the nest, striking a most pitiable 

 attitude. 'Pliis bird was taken for purposes 

 of identification, and as I held the trembling 

 little creature in my hand while the murder- 

 ous report of the gun reveiberated tlirough 

 the forest's recesses, it was difficult to dispel a 

 regret tliat this slight bird life might not have 

 met a happier fate. 



The localities frequented by tlie Nashville 

 Warbler add a cliarm to its most pleasing in- 

 dividuality. As memory reverts to those 

 golden days in the "North Woods" that 

 sweet song seems blending with the lay of 

 the Ulack-throated Green Warbler. The mel- 

 low crush of spltaynnm, the queenly moccasin 

 flower and modest, wild callaseem scarcely less 

 real. J. W. Prestnii. 



lSa.\ter, Inwa. 



The Great Blue Heron. 



Tlie habits of the (ireat Blue Heron, al- 

 thougli a very common Michigan bird, luive 

 ever been interesting to me. Tall, awkward, 

 and ungainly, he is not entirely devoid of per- 

 sonal Iteanty; besides there is something 

 solemn and stately in his walk, while the 

 broad sweep of his wings in flying is sonie- 

 tliing ratlier majestic; still tliis majestic ap- 

 pearance is somewhat relieved by liis long legs 

 projecting backward. 



Nor is he devoid of intelligence, and his 

 quickness of peiccption is decidedly remark- 

 able. Neither is he slow in action; besides he 

 has a very good opinion of himself, and is not 

 slow to resent an insult. Usually quiet and 

 solemn he is decidedly hot wlien aroused, and 

 being possessed with good weapons of ofl'ense 

 and defense, he is not slow to use them should 

 the occasion demand it; and the way he pre- 

 sents his bill for the settlement of an insult is 

 decidedly effective. With strong affection for 

 his own species, he is decidedly aristocratic 

 and exclusive regarding other classes of 

 beings. He evidently believes that he has a 

 place and a mission in the world, and purposes 

 to hold it. Tliough generally not very quarrel- 

 some witli his neighbors he is inclined to hold 

 his ground should the occasion demand it. 

 His appetite is also very aristocratic, enor- 

 mous, and most insatiable, yet he never gets 

 fat, — in fact, his lack of flesh is proverbial. 

 Always hungry, — greedy, — he yet has great 

 power to subdue hunger when the circum- 

 stances demand it. Ever majestic and digni- 



fied, it is with him, as with stately people, 

 vastly amusing to observers .should some 

 sudden mishap cause him to lose his dignity. 

 So much for his general characteristics. The 

 following incidents will serve to illustrate what 

 I have just written. 



One day, in company with a large dog, up- 

 on going down a steep slope, I came suddenly 

 within twenty feet of a large Blue Heron iisli- 

 ing in a creek, much to the surprise of both 

 parties. Taken completely unawares, the 

 awkward motions of this great bird, as it rose 

 to fly away, were very amusing. After flying 

 about thirty-five rods it undertook to alight 

 upon a limb of a dead maple tree, which broke 

 almost as soon as tlje Heron's weight rested 

 upon it. Down went the Heron nearly to the 

 ground before the great sweep of its wings 

 couUl enable it to take an upward course. As it 

 fell it uttered its harsh cry of hur-reck, Intr-reck, 

 hur-rerk. This last mishap was too much for 

 tlie already frightened bird and it soon dis- 

 appeared in the distance. 



A mill pond some three-quarters of a mile 

 from my liome is a favorite feeding place fin- 

 these birds. Tliis pond, being just outside of 

 the corporation in a very pleasant locality, is 

 often visited, and hence the Herons aie of tt n 

 interrupted in their fishing.. Past experience 

 has made them very sagacious. One <)r two 

 sentinels are always posted upon tall trees, 

 usually at the upper end of tlie pond, — if two, 

 about thirty rods apart, — and in such a man- 

 ner that no one can approach the pond from 

 any direction without being observed by one 

 or the other sentinel, who will immediately give 

 the alarm. Tlie pond is so situated tliat the 

 Herons fishing cannot be seen until tlie border 

 is reached, and the sentinels, being high abo\e 

 the water, can see a man long before he gets to 

 where he can see the fishers, unless he 

 approach through the woods on the south 

 side. 



One day I thoroughly tested their sagacity, 

 and found it greater tlian I liad suspected. 

 Stealthily moving through the woods south of 

 the pimd, 1 came near the steep bank of the 

 pond, partly hidden from the pond by dense 

 shrubbery. However, the nearest sentinel, 

 some thirty rods away, caught sight of my 

 head above the bushes and uttered a harsh 

 cry of alarm, which was repeated by tlie 

 second sentinel, who was posted so far up that 

 I would not have seen him had he not repeated 

 the cry. Immediately four or five Herons flew 

 from the water between me and the nearest 

 sentinel, one of them having been but a few 



