THE ALLIES OF THE PIGEON: AVES 



379 



Herons, Storks, and Allies. The birds of the group Hero- 

 dio'nes (Or. erodios, heron), often spoken of as wading birds, 

 are long-legged species, with four toes placed on about the 

 same level, and slightly or not at all webbed. The bill and 

 neck are long and slender. Crests and decorative plumes 

 often ornament the head and neck. Herons haunt the edge 



FIG. 197. Photograph of Egrets 



of ponds, lakes, and rivers, where they feed on fishes and 

 frogs, which they capture with their long, sharp beaks. 

 They nest in great colonies, usually in trees. The nests 

 are clumsy affairs made of sticks in an untidy mass. One 

 of our largest species is the great blue heron which stands 

 nearly five feet high. Several herons, called egrets (Fig. 197), 

 which have the misfortune to grow beautiful dorsal plumes, 

 or " aigrettes," at the breeding-season, have been practically 

 exterminated by man for the sake of their plumes for women's 

 hats. These birds were formerly common in Florida and along 



