NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 119 



known as the Florida Heron breeds on Florida Keys, but is said not to be 

 so abundant as in former years. It usually breeds in colonies, and in 

 company with the Great Blue Heron. The nests are generally built low, 

 not more than five feet from the ground, sometimes in high mangroves. 

 They are simply a platform of sticks, like the nests of other herons. The 



birds begin to lay in February. Hab. Southern Florida. Cuba. Jamaica. 



487. Great Blue Heron — ardea herodias. Greenish-blue, unspotted, 

 varying from elliptical to oval in form ; three to six eggs are laid, com- 

 monly three or four; size about 2.50 by 1.50. As with other Herons, 

 this one breeds in communities, and many nests may be found in an area 

 of a few rods. The nests of this species are placed in high trees or 

 bushes, in sycamores along rivers, but generally in retired and almost im- 

 penetrable swamps. In localities destitute of trees, the nest is placed on rocks. 

 When these birds are disturbed while nesling they will fly overhead and 

 utter their hoarse honks and gutteral cries. It breeds in suitable places 

 throughout its range. It is often erroneously called " Sand-hill Crane." 



Hab. North America; north to Hudson's Bay and Sitka; south to Guatemala and Galapagas. West 

 Indies. Winters in the South. 



489. American ligret — herodias alba egretta. Blush-green, un- 

 spotted, varying from elliptical to oval; two to four in number, and meas- 

 ure from 2.20 to 2.35 long by 1. 40 to 1.65 broad. The Great White 

 Egret is distributed in summer from New Jersey southward. It is one of 

 the most abundant of the Herons in Florida, where it nests about the 

 middle of March, placing their domiciles in trees or bushes not far from 

 the ground. The nest is simply a platform of sticks. 



Hab. United States, southerly, straggling northward to Nova Scotia, Canada, Minnesota, Etc. West 

 Indies. Mexico. Central and South America. 



490. Snowy Heron — garzetta candidissima. Pale greenish-blue, 

 unspotted, varying from elliptical to oval in form ; the eggs are from two 

 to five in number, and measure from 1.80 to 1.85 long by 1.20 to 1.25 

 broad. The Snowy Heron, or Little White Egret, is distributed in sum- 

 mer from New Jersey to Key West, throughout which range it breeds, 

 and winters in Florida. The nest is placed in trees or bushes, composed 

 of sticks, loosely arranged. 



Hab. United States, southerly. California. North regularly to the Middle States, casually to New 

 England and Nova Scotia. 



491. Reddish Egret; Peale's Egret — dichromanassa rufa. Light 

 bluish-green, unspotted, somewhat elliptical in form; two to four in num- 

 ber; size from 1.85 to 2. long by 1.40 to 1.50 broad. The Reddish Egret is 

 confined strictly to the Gulf States, where it is resident, and very abundant. 



