58 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



black, white and rusty ; chin and upper part of neck in front white. Tibise and edge 

 of wing reddish-brown ; upper parts and tail light bluish-slate color ; long scapular 

 feathers and long loose feathers on lower neck ; crissum white ; under parts chiefly 

 black, streaked with white. The young are different in many respects from the 

 above, but can always be known by their large size and a general resemblance to 

 the adult. 



Habitat. North America, from the Arctic regions southward to the West Indies 

 and northern South America. 



This bird, the largest of our herons, is a summer resident in various 

 localities in this state. During- the last few years, however, several 

 favorite breeding 1 resorts in eastern Pennsylvania, which were annually 

 visited by this and other species, have been broken up by boys and men 

 who destroyed the birds, old and young, simply because their feathers 

 would bring a few dollars, and, as they remarked, " there's no law to 

 stop it." 



I have no doubt that the time will soon come when this beautiful 

 heron will be known in this commonwealth only as a rare straggling 

 visitant. The nest is made of large sticks and twigs, and placed on the 

 larger limbs of trees, generally near the water. The eggs vary in num- 

 ber from three to five, are light-blue in color, and about the size of those 

 of our common domestic fowl. This bird, and the same is true of other 

 herons, when wounded and unable to escape, is one which cannot be 

 handled with too much caution, as it frequently, with its sharp and 

 powerful bill, inflicts severe, dangerous, and, it is said, sometimes fatal 

 wounds. In Florida I met a hunter who had an eye destroyed by one 

 of these birds which he had winged and carelessly attempted to pick up. 

 By some, particularly residents of certain of the southern states, the 

 flesh of the Great Blue Heron is considered quite a delicious morsel. 

 Some few winters ago, when camping in the cypress swamps of Florida, 

 I, more from necessity than choice, eat the breast meat of this heron 

 and also that of the Water Turkey (Anhinga anhinga), a bird which 

 preys exclusively on fish, and although I did not especially relish the 

 dish, I must admit that to a hungry man it was in no way disagreeable. 



The following interesting observations on the food-habits are given by 

 Nuttall : " Fish is the principal food of the Great Heron, and for this 

 purpose, like an experienced angler, he often waits for that condition of 

 the tide which best suits his experience and instinct. At such times 

 they are seen slowly sailing out from their inland breeding haunts, dur- 

 ing the most silent and cool period of the summer's day, selecting 

 usually such shallow inlets as the ebbing tide leaves bare or accessible 

 to his watchful and patient mode of prowling ; here wading to the knees 

 he stands motionless amidst the timorous fry, till some victim coming 

 within the compass of his wily range is as instantly seized by the pow- 

 erful bill of the heron. * * * If large the fish is beaten to 

 death, and commonly swallowed with the head descending, as if to avoid 

 any obstacle arising from the reversion of the fins or any hard external 



