I^NOWY HERON. 



169 



HABITS. 



In tlie lir.st edition oft'ii.-< work, as will be seen uu page 144 of tlie present edition, 

 this page being reproduced IVom the old edition without change, under head of Observa- 

 tions, I speak of the Great Blue Heron of Florida as h^^•ing whitish necks. The difference 

 •which I then observed has since been found to l)e const;int, and Mr. Ridgwav has justly 

 considered it of sufficient importance, taken in tsoiniection with the larger size and other 

 minor characters, to entitle the l)ir(l to specific rank. The given account of the habits of 

 the Great Blue Heron in Floii.la given on page 144 will therefore a])])ly to this species. 



In the spring of 188-") I found this species quite connnon on the eastern shores of 

 Indian River, Florida. They frequented tlie marshes, through which are scattered little 

 ponds. I was standing on the margin of one of these marshes one thy in April, watching 

 two of these Herons, which appeared to be (luarrelling over some object which one of them 

 held in its bill. We had recently burned the grass in this vicinity, so that I had an un- 

 obstructed view of the birds. After dodging aljout the marsh some moments to avoid the 

 persistent attacks of its companion, the Heron which had tlie object desired l)yboth, rose 

 and still holding its prey m its bill flew directly toward me, followed by the other bird. 

 1 stepped behind a bunch of palmetto? and awaited its ap])roach. It kept its direct 

 coui'se until it was within seventy-five or eighty ^ards of me, when it suddenly turned at 

 right angles. Seeing that it would come no nearer I raised my gun and fired. Although 

 the distance was too great for me to stop tlie bird, the shot had the very effect that I most 

 desired, for it caused the Heron to drop its prey, which fell on tlie ojjen marsh where I 

 easily found it. Much to my surprise and delight this proved to be a fine specimen of 

 that singular aquatic arviculine mammal, which had been recently described by Mr. True 

 as Neofiber alleni, from a single specimen, which up to this time remained unicpie. 



Thus I had to thank Ward's Heror, for not only exhibiting to me a singular habit, 

 but also for supplying me with tlie second specimen in existence of a desirable mammal. •=-, 



Note on Snowy Heron. On April 8th, 1885, I found a small colony of these Herons breeding in -/ 



some willows that grew in a small point near Banana River, north of Merritt's Island. Florida. Here I had 

 an e.xcellent opportunity of observing their breeding habits, and here I heard for the first time the jieculiar 

 song. The birds, probably the males, stood erect on the branches of the willows, puffed out the neck, then 

 gave utterance to a series of about si.x notes, which sounded almost exactly like bubbles of air, passing 

 through a moderately sized tube into water. 



At this time I was unaware of the singular method by which the Bittern produces its noSes thus I did 

 not make any special examination of the neck and oesophagus of specimens procured at that time. In 

 spite of the propensity of this species to associate in flocks and in heronries to breed, thej are of quite a 

 quarrelsome disposition when nesting. 



During my earlier visits to Florida 1 found the beautiful little Snowy Egret exceeding common and very 

 unsuspicious, allowing one to walk within a short distance of them, but in 1885 I found them not only quite 

 uncommon but very shy, au:l I regret now to have to record, from reports given me by friends that at this ' 

 time (1895) few if any herons of this species remain in Florida even in tlie wider sections of the everglades. 

 For the extermination of this and other allied species of Herons in Florida and elsewhere those ladies who 

 use their plumes for personal decoration ai'e wholly responsible. I am happy to be able to record, however, 

 that the Florida legislatiire has at hist enacted a law prohibiting the taking of Herons in that state. This 

 wise measure comes late, but yet, if the law be rigidly enforced, it may save some of the species from utter 

 extermination. 



