THE AMERICAN GREEN HERON. 



the rest of the head and neck purplish chestnut, while the fore neck and throat 

 are white, broadly striped with white and dusky. Beneath, the bird is brownish 

 grey, with the belly lighter ; and the tail feathers bottle-green. 



The Green Heron is widely distributed throughout the United States, the 

 West Indies, and as far south as the northern parts of South America. 



This pretty little Heron is less gregarious than many of its congeners, aud 

 is generally to be seen alone, or in pairs, by the side of tree-clad river banks, 

 where it may be discovered, during the day, hiding in a tree, or on the ground, 

 in a more or less sleepy condition. It feeds in the gloaming, or in bright moon- 

 lit nights, on insects, crabs, small fishes, or, indeed, any small aquatic animals it 

 can seize. Its nest is situated in a tree, or a bush, in association with its own 

 kind, or with other Herons often indeed near a dwelling house and is constructed 

 loosely of large twigs, lined with smaller, in which any number up to six eggs, 

 of a pale green colour, are laid. 



The Green Heron, according to Dr. Coues, is peculiar in its method of feeding. 

 On seeing a fish, " it crouches low on its legs, draws back its head, crooks its 

 neck, creeps slyly along on the ground, laying its tarsi almost down on the rock 

 [from which it prefers to fish, instead of wading into the water], carries the bill 

 level with the top of the back, and, when near enough, darts the bill forward 

 towards it, and sometimes with such force as to topple forward a step or two. It 

 seldom immerses its head in fishing, is always disposed to steal upon its prey in 

 a sly cat-like crouching manner, remaining quite motionless for a long time, and 

 often advancing so slowly and stealthily, that even a keen-eyed observer would 

 hardly perceive the motion." 



