I06 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [voL. 45 



(plate XXXIV, 3) ; they are now almost as large as their parents, but 

 ouite differently colored, "bearing still the little ivory tip at the point 

 of the bill. Leaving the nest, they climb into the branches, a very 

 praiseworthy act, for the old home and immediate surroundings have 

 been thoroughly fouled by the combined wastes of the whole family, 

 the nest, its supporting branches, and everything below it being com- 

 pletely whitewashed with the excreta of the birds, while undigested 

 or dropped food adds to the disagreeableness of their old quarters. 

 Then, too, from the branches they are better able to see the parents 

 as they return from their foraging expeditions. 



Young herons, though weak, have several methods of defense. 

 When one climbs a tree in which the young have passed the second 

 week, and the movements of the climbing begin to shake it, he may 

 be sure to receive a contribution of whitewash from the various 

 members. If the climber persists, the birds will even sacrifice their 

 last meal in his favor, or rather disfavor, and a continuance of the 

 climber's efforts will be met by the bird's final resort, which is to 

 launch at the intruder with full force, spreading his wings and 

 opening his cavernous mouth, striking with such violence that v/ere 

 he not securely anchored by his feet, he must surely be carried some 

 distance beyond the nest. His fierce appearance and method of 

 attack would repel any foe which might propose to dine upon his 

 tender flesh. 



By looking out over the tree-tops about the end of June, one may 

 see many heron sentinels (plate xxxiv, 4) watching and waiting in 

 the tips of trees. It is interesting to see how successfully these birds, 

 built especially for the marsh, carry on arboreal life. The young, if 

 disturbed when out in the branches, will, if old enough, either fly to a 

 neighboring tree or climb rapidly from branch to branch. If they 

 lose their balance in a jump, or fail to grasp a branch or twig with 

 their toes, the bill comes to their aid ; and I have seen birds sus- 

 pended by their bills for some minutes, struggling all the while to 

 reach the same twig with their toes, usually with success. A bird 

 may even strike a branch with its neck, in which case this member 

 is instantly crooked and serves as a hook to hold him until he 

 regains his balance. 



The feeding is all done at night, and it is interesting to be in the 

 colony after sunset — such clamoring, such calling, such din ! Every- 

 one, no doubt, has heard the racket with which young crows greet 

 their parents when they come with food. The heron's greeting is 



