Vol. XXn Bent. Nesting Habits of Florida Herodiones. 265 



one quarter to two thirds grown, covered with pure white down 

 until the white plumage appears. 



The young were very precocious, even when half grown, leaving 

 the nest at the slightest provocation and climbing nimbly over the 

 surrounding branches ; it was surprising to see how fast and how 

 far they could travel without falUng ; they were so lively that it 

 was a difficult matter to photograph them successfully. 



I cannot too strongly urge the necessity of protecting this 

 species and its smaller relative, the Snowy Heron, if they are to 

 be saved from utter extinction. These two are the principal suf- 

 ferers from the destructive persecution of the plume hunters ; but, 

 fortunately for them, they are now so rare everywhere, except in 

 the most inaccessible localities, that it hardly pays to hunt them ; 

 though an increased demand for aigrettes at higher prices might 

 prove disastrous. Under adequate protection, with a thorough 

 posting of the rookeries and with strict enforcement of the very 

 good laws now in force, there are probably enough Egrets left to 

 partially restock their former haunts. 



Egretta candidissima. Snowy Heron. 



What I have already said about the disappearance of the Egrets 

 is also true of this species. Although once very abundant all 

 through Florida it has now been nearly exterminated, com- 

 paratively speaking, but I am hopeful enough to think that the 

 work of destruction has been checked in time to save this beauti- 

 ful species from extinction. There are still a few Snowy Herons 

 left in the big rookeries of the upper St. Johns, and a number of 

 them still breed in the more inaccessible rookeries of the Cape 

 Sable region. In the former locality we spent all of one day and 

 part of another in the largest of the rookeries at Braddock Lake, 

 where hundreds of Louisiana Herons and many Little Blue 

 Herons were breeding, trying to identify the nests of the various 

 species among which were a few Snowy Herons. We were 

 unable to determine how many of this species were nesting there 

 and I succeeded in positively identifying only two nests of the 

 Snowy Heron. This rookery was on a small muddy island, in 



