THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 401 



breast; the body may be described as bluish-ash above and on the sides; the under 

 parts, including the tuft of feathers on each side the breast and the belly to the 

 white crissum, are sooty black, much varied along the middle line with white; 

 the tibia and the edge of the wing are rufous ; the quills are black, becoming more 

 plumbeous internally until the innermost secondaries are ashy, like the back ; the 

 elongated tips of the scapular feathers have a whitish shade ; the tail is of a bluish- 

 slate color; according to Mr. Audubon, the bill in life is yellow; dusky-green above ; 

 loral and orbital spaces light-green; iris yellow; feet olivaceous, paler above the 

 tibio-tarsal joint; claws black. 



Young. The upper mandible is blackish ; the lower yellow, except along the 

 commissure ; the head above is entirely dusky, without the much elongated occipital 

 feathers ; the breast is grayish, streaked with white and light-brown, but without 

 any pure-black patches ; the back is without the elongated scapular feathers ; in 

 still younger specimens, the coverts are all margined with rufous, which becomes 

 lighter at the tip; the rufous of the tibia is much lighter. 



Length, forty-two inches ; wing, eighteen and fifty one-hundredth s ; tarsus about 

 six and fifty one-hundredths inches; bill about five and fifty one-hundredths 

 inches. 



This, the' largest of our New-England Herons, is pretty 

 generally distributed throughout these States as a summer 

 resident ; and, although not very abundant in any section, it 

 is of course more often found in localities near large bodies of 

 water than elsewhere. It arrives from the South about the 

 second week in April, sometimes a little earlier. During 

 the day, it seems to prefer the solitudes of the forest for 

 its retreat, as it is usually seen in the meadows only at early 

 morning, and in the latter part of the afternoon. It then, 

 by the side of a ditch or pond, is observed patiently watching 

 for its prey. It remains standing motionless until a fish or 

 frog presents itself, when, with an unerring stroke with its 

 beak, as quick as lightning, it seizes, beats to pieces, and 

 swallows it. This act is often repeated ; and, as the Heron 

 varies this diet with meadow-mice, snakes, and insects, it 

 certainly does not lead the life of misery and want that 

 many writers ascribe to it. In fact, it is always plump and 

 in good condition ; and by many is considered as a palatable 

 bird on the table. 



About the 10th of May, this species commences building : 

 as with the other Herons, it breeds in communities, and 

 several nests may be found in an area of a few rods. These 



26 



