228 THE Birps Asout US. 
as far north as New Jersey, and are more common 
along the coast than inland. 
The American Egret and the Snowy Heron, to 
the casual observer, might be thought to be the same 
birds as the preceding two, but white instead of blue. 
When the four species are together, as I have seen 
them, feeding in flooded meadows, they have a very 
marked similarity in all their movements. They walk 
gracefully, carry themselves in a stately manner, and 
when flying are the embodiment of grace. They 
float easily rather than laboriously fly. 
‘Unfortunately, and to man’s or woman’s discredit, 
very few of these birds are now to be seen: they 
have been slaughtered for their plumes.” This, writ- 
ten of one species, is applicable to all. This is the 
sad state of affairs in Florida, and in the Middle 
States it is even worse. Practically, all our heronries 
are deserted. It was the habit of these birds to build 
in colonies, and in the space of an acre of woodland 
would be a great number of nests. Now, when the 
herons breed the nest is in some most solitary place, 
and there will not be another pair of birds within 
several miles. In many respects the herons are no 
longer interesting. A single bird or a single pair 
have become a matter of curiosity, but the “ troops” 
that added so much to the landscape years ago have 
gone from us forever. 
It may not be long before we are reduced to the 
little ‘‘ Fly-up-the-Creek” as the sole representative 
of the herons, and even these little fellows are in 
some danger, as I have heard of their being eaten. 
This bird, which is the Green Heron, and nicknamed 
