309 



THE NEST AND EUGS. 



The nests, built of sticks aud twigs, are placed in 

 low bushes or small trees adjacent to a stream or pond. 

 The nests i'retiuently are built in apple orcliards. In- 

 deed, the largest number of nests that I ever fo-und in 

 one locality was in an apple orchard along the Brandy- 

 wine, where for several years some twenty-five or 

 thirty of these birds annually resorted. While it is 

 true that I have found these Herons breeding in small 

 numbers with the Night and Great Blue Herons in 

 Pennsylvania, aud also in Florida in company with the 

 Little Blu(\ Louisiana and Snowy Herons, and even 

 sometimes in the colonies of Water Turke.vs and Cor- 

 morants, I think, as a rule, they usually prefei" to re- 

 main by themselves during the season of reproduction 

 as well as at other times. Various writers state tliat 

 the eggs are four in number. I luive examined many 

 nests and considered the usual complement to- be not 

 less than five; frequently six eggs are laid. The eggs 

 are pale blue and larger than those of our common 

 pigeon. 



EATS FISH. INSECTS, FROGS, ETC. 



This species feeds much more frequently on 

 insects than other of the herons that reside with us. 

 Nuttall writes of the Green Heron in the following Ian 

 guage: 



"He is also pai-ticularly attracted by artificial ponds for fish, 

 not refraining- even to visit gardens and domestic premises 

 when any prospect of fare may offer. He is, at the same time, 

 perhaps as much in quest of the natural enemy of fish, the 

 froer, as of the legitimate tenants of the pond. Thes,e bold and 

 intrusive visits are commonly made early in the morning, 

 towards twiligrht, and he not unfrequently, when pressed by 

 hunger, or after ill-success, turns out tn hunt his fare by day 



