on THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 
Whenever the old birds were about, 
the young kept up a loud cackling not 
unlike that of Guinea hens, but less 
shrill and of immensely greater volume. 
The parents, too, made an astonishing 
amount of noise, roaring at times like 
caged lions. One in particular which 
was greatly incensed by the visit of an 
over-curious neighbor bellowed till the 
earth shook. 
Similar cacklings and bellowings 
led me to another tree a hundred yards 
away. ‘This tree was quite destitute of 
foliage, but held at a height of a hun- 
dred feet two nests, which might have 
been there for many years, so securely 
lodged were they, and so venerable to 
appearance. At a signal from an old 
bird, the young ones, which were stand- 
ing at full height in these nests, instant- 
ly froze to stone. After this, they sank 
down by a movement as insensible as 
that of the hands of a clock, but after 
ten minutes they had vanished to sight 
from below. 
Another nest in the same wood 
was in a live oak at a height of not 
less than 120 feet. How many more 
there might have been I do not know, 
for the mosquito question was begin- 
ning to assume a serious aspect. It 
Taken in Franklin County. would be of interest to collect all pos- 
Photo by the Author. . : afi 6 é ae ‘ -. 
, saat a sible information concerning local her- 
NESTS OF GREAT BLUE HERON AT ; 5 
HEIGHT OF ONE HUNDRED FEET. onries and to collate the facts, as Hart- 
ONLY THE TOP OF THE NESTING TREE IS SHOWN. 
ing did in Great Britain some thirty 
years ago. Wherever found the Great Blue Heron should be rigidly pro- 
tected, not merely because it adds mice and large insects to its humble bill 
cf fare, but because of its picturesque interest. 
