SPECIES 3. ARDEA HERODMS. 

 GREAT HERON. 



[Plate LXV. Fig. 2.] 



Le Heron hupe de F$rgime,BRiss. v,p. 416. 10. Le Grand Heron 

 d'Jlmerique, BUFF. vn,p. 385. Larger crested Heron, CATESB. 

 Jlpp.pl. 10 ', fig. 1. LATH. Syn. in, p. 85. Arct. Zool. JVo. 341- 



PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 3629. 



THE history of this large and elegant bird having been long 

 involved in error and obscurity,* I have taken more than com- 

 mon pains to present a faithful portrait of it in this place; and 

 to add to that every fact and authentic particular relative to its 

 manners which may be necessary to the elucidation of the sub_ 

 ject. 



The Great Heron is a constant inhabitant of the Atlantic 

 coast from New York to Florida; in deep snows and severe wea- 

 ther seeking the open springs of the cedar and cypress swamps, 

 and the muddy inlets occasionally covered by the tides. On 

 the higher inland parts of the country, beyond the mountains, 

 they are less numerous; and one which was shot in the upper 

 parts of New Hampshire, was described to me as a great curio- 

 sity. Many of their breeding places occur in both Carolinas, 

 chiefly in the vicinity of the sea. In the lower parts of New 

 Jersey they have also their favourite places for building, and 

 rearing their young. These are generally in the gloomy soli- 



* Latham says of this species, that " all the upper parts of the body, the belly, 

 tail and legs are brown;" and this description has been repealed by every subse- 

 quent compiler. Buffon, with his usual eloquent absurdity, describes the He- 

 ron as " exhibiting the picture of wretchedness, anxiety and indigence; condemn- 

 ed to struggle perpetually with misery and want; sickened with the restless crav- 

 ings of a famished appetite;'' a description so ridiculously untrue, that, were it 

 possible for these birds to comprehend it, would excite the risibility of the 

 whole tribe. 



VOL. III. I 



