72 THE WILSON BULLETIN— June, 1921 



Tybee island. Here the birds breed lin a jungle of oaks 

 difficult to penetrate. So numerous are they that every 

 available nesting site is occupied, many new nests being 

 built upon the foundations of old ones. In May, 1915, I 

 found a<few pairs breeding in company with several other 

 species of herons in a pond on Ossabaw island. This 

 species prefers oaks in which to place its nest, and as in 

 thLs pond, willows afford the only tree nesting sites, it 

 breeds there only in very small numbers. Furthermore, it 

 is apparently averse to breeding in any great numbers in 

 company of other species of herons. Its nest is a shabby 

 affair, being simply a few sticks loosely arranged in a cir- 

 cular manner. Nearly every one that I have examined 

 was without the least sign of a depression to prevent the 

 eggs from rolling out, and I cannot conceive by what mys- 

 terious force they are held, during high winds, in nests 

 built in exposed situations. On a number of occasions I 

 have been in rookeries during wind storms, but none of 

 the eggs which were left exposed due to my frightening the 

 birds from them, were blown out. The usual complement 

 is four, although sets of five are frequently laid. The color 

 is bluish green, and in size they average 1.40x1.10. 



Young Green Herons become active at a sui*prisingly 

 early age and begin climbing out on the limbs near the 

 nest many days before they are able to fly. The parents 

 exhibit much anxiety when the young are disturbed, often 

 threatening to strike the intruder with their sharp bill. 



This species is much given to frequenting the salt 

 marshes where an abundance of food is always to be ob- 

 tained. After it has satisfied its hunger, it resorts to near- 

 by thickets of trees, wher-e it remains concealed and quiet 

 for long periods. Its food is of mucli the same character 

 as that of other species of herons. 



McQueen's island, between the city of Savannah an<l 

 Tybee island is a favorite feeding ground for large numbers 

 of these herons. This island is eight miles long, but 

 averages only about one mOe Avide, in some places 

 being but three hundred yards in width. It is al- 

 most wholly composed of salt marsh ; here and there 



