97 



examined a large number of nests, by climbing to one and then swing- 

 ing to the nearest on the maple and white-birch saplings on which 

 the nests were constructed. The young, none of which were more 

 than two or three days old, were covered with gray down. The nests 

 contained from one to four eggs each, and in three, which I examined, 

 five eggs were found. Crows destroy their eggs, and to some such 

 accident the lesser numbers of eggs was probably due. The ground 

 was strewn with dead birds, which had been cruelly shot for sport. 



On June 26, 1873, I again visited the Herons, examining many of 

 their nests, most of which were deserted, however; but two nests 

 contained three eggs each, perfectly fresh, which were probably a 

 second brood, belonging to birds whose first nests had been spoiled 

 after the first laying. Other nests were still occupied by fat young 

 ones, that seemed to enjoy climbing to the extremity of the branches 

 about the nest, and to the top of the tree, dropping or scrambling 

 rapidly back into the nest, as I approached. Their irides are nar- 

 row; color, light carmine. By the 26th of August the Herons had .all 

 left the swamp. The atmosphere was foul from the stench arising 

 from the decaying Herons, which were lying in numbers upon the 

 ground, having been shot in mere wantonness by the gunners. Dead 

 fishes were also strewn about. I noticed five different species which 

 the Herons had brought to the swamp. 



On the succeeding season (1874) only one or two pairs of Night 

 Herons had the courage to return to the old breeding-place, where 

 they had been so cruelly treated; but those birds reestablished the 

 Heronry, and founded a city upon the ruins of the past, which has 

 been the happy home of hundreds of prosperous "Squawks" ever 

 since. Their swamp is a long stretch of oozy land, at the east side 

 of Constitution Island; and their best friends are the lady owners of 

 the island the Misses Warner. The trees are mainly saplings ; and 

 on the top of each is placed a bulky nest, composed of sticks, which 

 are arranged in an orderly manner, making a pretty, clean receptacle 

 for the eggs, which vary in number from four to six, are bluish-green 

 in color, and measure 2-25Xl'55 of an inch. They arrive from the 

 South during the first or second week in April. The old nests are 

 carefully repaired ; and during this busy time the birds fly back and 

 forth, industriously carrying sticks and arranging them carefully in 

 their nests, so as to form a good-sized basin, sufficiently concave to 

 prevent the eggs from rolling out in case of high winds. Curved 

 twigs are selected, and so placed as to radiate from the centre out- 

 wards, with their concavity directed upwards. This disposition of 

 the twigs gives to the outside of the nest a rather bristling aspect. 

 Some branches have green leaves attached to them, showing that the 

 builders break them oil from the living tree. One nest was quite well 



