120 NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



It breeds in communities with other species, the nest being simply a plat- 

 form of sticks, loosely arranged, placed in trees and upon low bushes, and 

 sometime on the ground. 



492. Louisiana Heron — hvdranassa tricolor ludoviciana. Bluish- 

 green, unspotted, varying from elliptical to oval in form; two to four; 

 size from 1.75 to 1.80 long by 1.30 to 1.40 broad. The Louisiana Heron 

 is distributed in summer from the Carolinas to Key West, and it is resi- 

 dent along our Southern Gulf Coasts. It breeds in communities, placing 

 the nest in trees or bushes; it is composed of sticks loosely arranged. 



Hab. South Atlantic and Gulf States, chiefly maritime, rarely north to the Middle States. 



493. Little Blue Heron — Florida c^rulea. Dark Bluish green, un- 

 spotted; two to four, of the usual shape; size from 1.60 to 1.82 in length 

 by 1.25 to 1.35 in breadth. The Little Blue Heron is an abundant resi- 

 dent of the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and is often found as far north 

 as the Middle States in summer, and casually to New England. The nest 

 of this speces, like others, is placed in trees or bushes, composed of sticks 

 inartistically arranged, and forming nothing more than a mere platform 

 for the eggs. The young of this Heron are pjirc zvhite, and should not be 

 confounded with immature specimens of G. candidissima. Snowy Heron, 

 which is of the same size, and similar form. I have frequently had skins 

 of the Young Little Blue Heron sent me for those of the Little White 

 Egret. The tips of the primaries and the top of the head of the former 

 are, however, tinged with blue, by which it is distinguished from the 

 latter, as well as by the bill and feet, though at first the legs are greenish- 

 blue with yellowish tinge. 



494. Green Heron — butorides virescens. Light greenish-blue, un- 

 spotted, elliptical; three to six, four being the usual number; size 1.37 

 by 1. 15. The nest of this Heron is placed in trees or bushes, on the 

 border of a stream or near a swamp, sometimes in an orchard at a distance 

 from water. The Fly-up-the-Creek is distributed throughout United 

 States generally, and breeds anywhere in its range. It winters in the 

 South and beyond. Notwithstanding the vulgar name by which it is so 

 well known it is a pretty bird, and as clean and interesting as any of 

 those of immaculate plumage with magnificent trains of long fastigated 

 feathers. 



495. Black-crowned Night Heron — nyctiardea grisea n^via. Pale 

 bluish-green, unspotted, varying from elliptical to oval; three to five; size 

 from 1.90 to 2.15 long by 1.35 to 1.55 broad. Mr. M. B. Griffing, of 



