AMERICAN EGRET 
196. Herodias egretta. 41 in. 
Entirely white, with no plumes on the head but with 
a long train of straight “aigrette” plumes growing 
from the middle of the back; bill and eye, yellow; legs 
and feet, black. Young and adults in winter, without 
plumes. The hand of man, to gratify the desire of 
woman, has ruthlessly slaughtered thousands upon thou- 
sands of these exquisitely beautiful birds; in Florida 
where they were abundant a few years ago, only strag- 
glers are seen. A few of these heronries are yet left, 
either because they are in wildernesses where man has 
not yet penetrated, or are strongly protected by the 
humane owners of the land. It is only at the breeding 
places that they can be killed in numbers, as at other 
times they are shy; and it is only during nesting season 
that they wear their beautiful plumes. 
Nest.—A frail platform of sticks, at low elevations, 
in bushes usually over water in swamps. Eggs, 3 or 
4 in number, plain bluish green (2.25x 1.45); April 
to June. 
