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AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



drawn back ready to strike, and few tlsh escape that long unerring beak. 

 They appear to hunt alone and seldom are more seen together when thus 

 engaged. Frogs are a favorite article of food with them, and they will 

 stand in water up to their knees for hours at a time patiently waiting for 

 one to rise within striking distance. 



Nearly every boy, and man too for that matter, considers herons good 

 game for his gun, and never misses a chance of getting one. Naturally 

 under these circumstances the birds are not very tame. Still if they think 

 there is a chance to escape observation they will hide rather than fly. 



YOUNG GREEN HERONS ON NEST. 



Photo by J. B. Pardoe. 



There is one heron in particular, that 1 always find in or about the same 

 small pond. There are a few small rushes growing in this pond, and he 

 alwaysrtries to pass himself off as one of these. He will stand beside 

 them with his body erect and head and bill pointing straight upward. No 

 one unless he was looking expressly for him would ever notice him. 1 

 have walked entirely around the pond and passed within six feet of him, 

 and could not see that he moved a muscle. 



The illustrations of the nest and eggs and the nest with young birds 

 photographed by Dr. Pardoe give a good idea of the appearance of a Green 

 Heron's nest, and of the young birds. A more ungainly, awkward, and 

 shabby looking lot of nestlings it would be hard to find. Only those who 

 have tried to obtain photos of nests situated as these, can begin to realize 



