1Ge "THE SNOWY HERON. 
single plume-hunter has killed hundreds of Egrets in a day; and in the 
palmy days of the “industry” certain gangs were able to kill tens of thou- 
sands in a single season. 
Much has been done to arouse a healthy public sentiment upon this 
question, but the apathy which still remains is appalling. Only last spring 
(1903) the traffic in ‘“‘aigrettes’’ was one of the marked features of the 
millinery business. | Of course the market is no longer supplied from the 
United States — our birds are gone—but what matter? ‘There are still 
enough left in Central and South America to last about six years. And 
then? ‘Why, then,’ says Dame Fashion, quite cheerfully, “we will covet 
something else.” 
Dr. Wheaton says of this species: ‘Rather common visitor in July, 
August, and September. Perhaps breeds in western Ohio, but I have no 
record of its occurrence in spring or in the breeding season, nor seen any 
except young birds. Dr. Coues, in connection with this bird,’ observes ‘that 
a certain northward migration of some southerly birds at this season (sum- 
mer) is nowhere more noticeable than among the Herons and their allies, 
the migrants consisting chiefly of birds hatched that year, which unaccount- 
ably stray in the wrong direction.’ ”’ 
There is little to add to this brief record, except to say that the bird 
is now very rare in Ohio. The only recent occasion of its occurrence with 
us, so far as I have been able to learn, is that reported by Mr. D. C. Stone 
of Cincinnati. Mr. Stone observed a single bird which visited a sandbar 
near the mouth of the Little Miami River, daily, for a week, during the 
month of August, 1902. 
No. 212. 
SNOWY HERON. 
A.O. U. No. 197. Egretta candidissima (Gmel.). 
Synonym.—LiI?ttLe WHITE EGRET. 
Description.—Adult in breeding plumage: Entire plumage pure white; 
a bunch of forty or fifty “aigrettes” originates on middle of back and reaches to 
or beyond tail; character of plumes as in preceding species, but delicately recurved 
toward tip; a lengthened occipital crest of decomposed feathers; feathers on side 
of neck below somewhat similar to those on back, not recurved; lores, eyes, and 
toes yellow; bill black, yellow at base; legs mainly black. Adult after breeding 
season and immature: Without dorsal plumes. Length 20.00-27.00 (508.-685.8) ; 
wing 9.75 (247.6) ; bill 2.00-3.50 (50.8-88.9) ; tarsus 4.15 (105.4). 
Recognition Marks.—Brant size; pure white plumage; nuptial train not so 
1 “Birds of the Northwest, p. 521.” 
