as yet unable to fly, clamber about in the branches and add their squawks to those of 

 the parents. Herons, like most birds, are highly adaptable, using what is available, and 

 while in the Chicago area they nest high in tree tops; where there are no trees they 

 may nest in bushes or even on the ground. 



In the bush in the right foreground of the group is a little green heron on its nest. 

 It contrasts with the great blue heron in a number of ways, being much smaller, less 

 shy, much more active, and more often hidden in shrubbery or reeds. It has catholic 

 tastes in food, eating, amongst other things, minnows, crayfish, frogs, grasshoppers and 

 cutworms. It often walks along until it sees its prey: then it crouches down and ap- 

 proaches stealthily until it is within range, when the neck that has been folded up 

 snaps out its full length to drive the bill forward into the prey. 



In nesting, this bird is adaptable, sometimes nesting high, sometimes low-even on 

 the ground; sometimes it nests singly, sometimes in colonies, but rarely with other 

 species. The pale green eggs are usually four or fi\e in number. They hatch in about 

 seventeen days. At an early age the young climb about among the branches. ^Vhen 

 young herons are approached they have what is to us a most disgusting method of de- 

 fense, for they regurgitate the contents of the stomach. 



Though the scene of the present exhibit is in Michigan, both species of heron and the 

 male wood duck in the foreground are common in the Chicago area. No less than eight 

 other species of herons have been recorded here. 



"291 



