THE GREAT HERON. Ill 



«hree-toed, the outer joined to the middle by a broad ana 

 strong membrane, and each bordered with a rough, warty 

 edge ; the soles of the feet are defended from the hard sand 

 and shells by a remarkably thick and callous warty skin. 



On opening these birds, the smallest of the three was 

 found to be a male; the gullet widened into a kind of 

 crop ; the stomach, or gizzard, contained fragments of shell* 

 fish, pieces of crabs, and of the great king-crab, with some 

 dark brown marine insects. The flesh was remarkably firm 

 and muscular; the skull, thick and strong, intended, no 

 doubt, as in the woodpecker tribe, for the security of the 

 brain from the violent concussions it might receive while 

 the bird was engaged in digging. The female and young 

 birds have the back and scapulars of a sooty brownish olive. 



THE GREAT HERON. (Ardea Herodiat.) 



The Great Heron (says Mr. Wilson) is a constant inha- 

 bitant of the Atlantic coast, from New York to Florida ; in 

 deep snows and severe weather seeking the open springs of 

 the cedar and cypress swamps, and the muddy inlets occa- 

 sionally covered by the tides. On the higher inland parts 

 of the country, beyond the meuntains, they are less nume* 

 roQs; and one which was shot in the upper parts of New 



