AMERICAN EGRET. 85 



This Egret does not occur regularly near the Atlantic coast north 

 of New Jersey, but it is a rather common visitor to Ohio, and 

 a small number of the birds are seen every year in the southern 

 portions of Ontario and Illinois. Stragglers are found occasionally 

 in New England, and a few have been met with on the Bay of 

 Fundy and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 



The birds are said to breed no farther north than Virginia and 

 Illinois, though wandering beyond these latitudes after the young 

 broods are independent of assistance. 



The food of this bird consists chiefly of small fish, frogs, lizards, 

 and such ; but it refuses nothing eatable that comes within its reach, 

 and is expert at catching mice and insects. Although shy when in 

 a wild state, it is easily reconciled to captivity, says Dr. Brewer; 

 and its elegant plumage and graceful carriage combine to make it 

 an attractive ornament to courtyard or garden. 



Unfortunately, and to man's, or woman's, discredit, very few of 

 these birds are now to be seen, — they have been slaughtered for 

 their plumes. Mr. W. E. D. Scott, who is familiar with the 

 heronries of Florida, tells us of one of these breeding-grounds, 

 where "thousands" were nesting six years before, but was en- 

 tirely deserted when he visited it in 1887. He saw only two or 

 three frightened birds ; the " thousands " had been exterminated 

 by the plume-hunters. 



