Vol. XXI 

 iqo4 



j Bent, Nesting Habits of Florida Hcrodiones. 26 1 



around the shores of some small estuary, patiently awaiting the 

 approach of their prey, as motionless as white marble statues. 

 When not fishing they may be seen perched on the outer branches 

 of the mangroves, their pure white plumage standing out in 

 marked contrast against the dark foliage, making them very 

 conspicuous even at a great distance. 



It is utterly useless to attempt to approach them at such times, 

 for their eyesight, as well as their hearing, is very acute ; they are 

 extremely shy and will fly at the sight of an approaching boat half 

 a mile away. It is almost as difficult to approach them on land, 

 even under the cover of the mangroves, where the slightest noise 

 will send them flying away croaking hoarsely. Only once was I 

 able to outwit them, on one of their favorite roosting keys, where, 

 after stalking them fruitlessly for several hours, I finally concealed 

 myself among some thick underbrush and awaited their return ; 

 I was rewarded by securing two fine specimens as they flew over 

 on their way to their evening roost. In all their movements they 

 are deliberate and dignified ; in flight they are slow, direct and 

 powerful, with steady strokes of their great wings, the head drawn 

 in upon the shoulders and the long legs stretched out straight 

 behind. 



On several of the Keys we found empty nests of large Herons, 

 some of which were probably referable to this species, but we 

 found only one of their breeding colonies. This was on one of the 

 Oyster Keys where on April 29 we discovered a small rookery of 

 half a dozen pairs of Great White Herons and one or two pairs of 

 Ward's Herons. The key was very small, less than an acre in 

 extent, of the mud key type with a little dry land in the centre, 

 overgrown with a thick tangle of underbrush ; the usual strip of 

 red mangroves occupied the whole of one end of the island where 

 we nearly overlooked the little colony of nests which were all 

 grouped about a small inlet or bay. The Herons had all left the 

 island, silently and unobserved, long before we landed, and an 

 occasional glimpse of a great white bird in the distance was all we 

 saw of the parents of the helpless young, whose identity fortu- 

 nately was beyond question. A Ward's Heron flew over us within 

 gunshot, but the Great White Herons never came anywhere near 

 it. 



