26O ARDEID^: : HERONS. 



breeds in communities, the nest being placed in trees in 

 swampy localities, built chiefly of large sticks. The 

 eggs, commonly three or four in number, but often 

 more, are elliptical in shape, pale bluish-green in color, 

 and measure about 2.60 X 1.75. It is a wild and wary 

 bird, very difficult to approach under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances. 



GREAT WHITE HERON, OR EGRET. 

 HERODIAS EGRETTA (Gm.) Gr. 



Chars. Of large size ; color entirely white at all ages and seasons ; 

 no crest, but back with a magnificent train of fastigiate feathers 

 in the breeding season, reaching beyond the tail ; neck closely 

 feathered. Bill, lores and eyes yellow ; legs and feet black. 

 Length, 36.00-42.00 ; extent about 55.00 ; wing, 16.00-17.00 ; 

 tail, 5.50-6.50 ; bill, 4.50-5.00 ; tarsus about 6.00 ; tibiae bare 

 3-50- 



This very elegant bird, conspicuous by reason of 

 its stature and color, is of rare and probably not 

 regular occurrence so far north as New England. 

 The earlier records, made at a time when precision 

 in the identification of rare occurrences was considered 

 of less consequence than it is now rightly held to be, 

 are too indefinite to be satisfactory now. Thus 

 Prof. Emmons in his catalogue of Massachusetts birds 

 (1835) speaks of the Great White Egret as a regular 

 visitant, and a breeder. The Rev. W. B. O. Peabody 

 also notices the bird (B. Mass., 1839, p. 363), on 

 authority of Audubon per Brewer. These are probably 

 the sources of Mr. F. W. Putnam's remark, that the 

 bird occurs in Essex County, Mass., as a very rare 

 spring visitor (Pr. Essex Inst, i, 1856, p. 218). 



