The Green Heron 263 



colonies of nesting herons and ibises in the southern swamps, and among 

 the hundreds or often thousands of birds collected there you will find now 

 and then a nest of the modest little Green Heron, occupying some incon- 

 spicuous spot in one of the willow-trees or cypresses. 



Every bird in the world, as probably every other wild creature, has 

 its natural enemies. Something is ever on the alert to prey upon it. 

 Every sparrow, wren, warbler, thrush, hawk, and even the resourceful 

 and powerful eagle, must keep a sharp lookout that 

 some foe does not catch it or destroy its eggs and Vigilance 



young. The Green Heron is no exception to this rule. 

 Eoxes, also minks and weasels, possibly catch this bird now and then. 



The nesting-season, however, must be the period of greatest anxiety 

 for this bird and for all others. Although the cradle for the eggs is 

 always well hidden in the rushes or among the foliage of bushes and 

 trees, it is, nevertheless, often discovered by sharp-eyed wild hunters 

 when out in search of good things to eat. Crows, which know so well 

 how to look out for their own interests, every year steal Green Herons' 

 eggs from the nests. The Fish Crow, which is slightly smaller than the 

 Crow that is commonly seen, and is particularly numerous along the 

 seacoast, and also haunts the neighborhood of large inland ponds, lakes 

 and rivers, is a wonderfully successful egg-hunter. When one of these 

 robbers goes out for an omelet, it flies across the country or slips through 

 the trees in a most crafty and silent manner. Finding a Heron's nest, 

 it will cunningly withdraw, and return at a time when the parent-bird 

 is temporarily away, taking a rest or looking for food. Then comes the 

 Crow. With a strong, plunging stroke it will drive its bill into an egg, 

 and fly off with it without a sound. Often it will 

 alight on the limb of some tree near by and proceed at Crows 



once to enjoy its repast, but sometimes will fly a long 

 distance with its booty before stopping to devour it in seclusion. 



Once I saw a plucky Kingbird attack a Crow which was carrying 

 on its bill a Green Heron's egg. The fierce little black fighter boldly 

 attacked the marauder, which was many times its size, and drove it for 

 fully a quarter of a mile. The Crow flew with all its power in its efforts 

 to get away from its tormentor. The Kingbird followed fast, and fre- 

 quently ranging above it would dart down at the head and back of the 

 Crow. In desperation, the egg-hunter finally dropped its load, and at 

 length escaped to the friendly shelter of a thick pine tree. The egg 

 chanced to fall into a pool of water, and I picked it up unbroken. In 

 one side was a hole about the size of the end of a man's finger. This 

 had been made by the bill of the feathered robber. 



When the Green Heron builds its nest in bushes 

 growing over or near the surface of a pond or lake 

 there is always danger from water-moccasins, which are very fond of 

 birds' eggs. 



It is a well-understood fact that many more of these interesting 

 birds would be seen if they were not so constantly persecuted by their 



