DESCRIPTIONS OF OUR NATIVE BIRDS. 27 



PLUMED EGRET. 



(Herodias plumiferous)— r/oi/W.s Han(^ Bool-. 



(Mesophoyx plumifera)— Mai^^^'^' Hand List. 



OTHER SPECIES r The Australian (or White ?) Egret {Herodias timo- 

 IN } riensis). 



SOUTH AUSTRALIA. ( The Little Egret [Garzetta nigripes). 



Size. — In size the egret equals the blue crane, or white-fronted heron, being about 

 2ft. high when standing erect. 



Bill. — The bill is a dark yellow or nearly orange color, and the eyes are surrounded 

 with yellow skin. 



Plumage. — Its plumage is pure white. On the back, near the base of the tail, is a 

 lovely plume of long, slender, pointed feathers ; another plume, equally 

 fine, hangs from the lower portion of the neck over the chest. 



Habitat. — The habitat of the egret is the swampy margins of lakes, lagoons, and 

 rivers. 



Food. — Its food consists chiefly of frogs, tadpoles, fish, newts, and aquatic insects. 



Nest. — The egret builds a loose, flat nest of sticks upon a flat forking limb. Nest- 

 ing operations extend over the months of October, November, and 

 December. 



Eggs.— The eggs of the plumed egret are of a uniform pale greenish-blue color. 

 They closely resemble in appearance the eggs of the blue crane, but are 

 a little smaller. 



Egret plumes are greatly sought after by bird hunters, who ruthlessly 

 slay our handsomest and most useful birds to satisfy the fancy of thought- 

 less people. The word thoughtless is used because, if many of the ladies 

 who wear the wings, plumes, and skins of birds could but once see the 

 cruel misery and suffering of wounded birds and starving nestlings, 

 they certainly would never wear any but artificial feathers and plumes. 

 Observe the poor disconsolate little nestlings, rendered fatherless and 

 motherless by the plume hunters, and waiting to be fed by the parents 

 that can never return. 



