104 



Birds ok Xouth C'akolixa 



Genus Butorides iBlyth) 

 ^ 84. Butorides virescens virescens [Linn.). Green Heron. 



Ads.- — Crown and a short lino liolow eye glossy gi'eenish blaek; throat buffy wliite, tliis color 

 extending dowii foicncfk as a narrow lino mixed with blackish, widening on breast; rest of 

 head and neck rufous-chestiuit glossed with vinaceous; back, with lengthened inter-scajndars, 

 green, more or less washed with l)hiisli gray; wing-coverts gi-een, margined with white or bufTy; 

 belly asliy gray, more or less washed with biilTy. /in. — Similar, Init with neck and nndcrparts 

 streaked with blackish; back without lengthened feathers or wash of blue-gray; wing-coverts 

 widely margined with buffv ochraceous. L., 17.00; W., 7.2."i; Tar., 1.90; B., 2.50. (Chap., 

 BiriUof E.N. A.) " 



liniigc. — North America, breeding from southern Canada to tlie West Indies; winters from 

 tlie West Indies southwards and rarely in the United States. 



Range in Xoilli Caroliiiti. — Whole State in summer, arriving in late March or early .\pril 

 and staying till early October. 



The Green Heron, also known as "Scow," "Shypoke," "Scout," "Indian Hen," 

 and "Fly-iii)-tli(' Creek," is tlic sinallest of tlie true herons, and is familiar to nio.st 

 f;irin-l)oys of the State. .Mill-ponds ai\d the hanks of rivers and ereeks arc its 



Fia. 68. Grkkn Heron. 



favorite liauiils. |it wades cautiously tlirduuli the slialldW watiT l(iokin,ii lor froK?*, 

 fish, salamanders, or otlier small aciuatie hfe upon whirli it jireys. A\'hen alarmed, 

 the startled "squawk.^" it emits recall to tlie mind of many a man his early swim- 

 mins or fishing ex]ieri(>nees. The dri'en Heron's nest is characteristic of those 

 of the family, being a slight affair hiiilt loosely of twigs. Frequently it is ])laced in 

 a hush or tree growing in tiie water, but more often, perhaps, the tree sek-cted is 

 on land; sometimes it nests in oak, apple, or other trees, a mile or more from the 

 nearest feeding iilace. 



On April lo, 1SU8, Pearson found three of its iiists near Lake Landing in Hyde 

 County, whielt were placed on the liorizontal hnibs of cedar trees about fifteen feet 

 from the ground. Tliey were made entirely of cedar twigs and were so frail that 

 the five blue eggs in one could be counted through the nest from below. Green 

 Herons appear to be coininun siuinner residents throughout the State. 



