224 HERONS AND BITTERNS 



Washington, rather common, absent only in midwinter. Long Island, 

 common T. V., Apl. and May; Aug.-Dec. (Dutcher). Ossining, common 

 T. V., Apl. 4-Apl. 18; Aug. 16-Oct. 6. Cambridge, uncommon T. V., Apl. 

 1-Mayl; Sept. 1-Oct. 20; occasional in winter. N. Ohio, tolerably com- 

 mon S. R., Mch. 20-Oct. 10. Glen Ellyn, not common T. V., Apl. 3-26; 

 Aug. 3-Oct. 24. SE. Minn., common S. R., Mch. 26-Oct. 1. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, generally in colonies, usually in tall trees, 

 sometimes on the ground on islets. Eggs, 3-4, pale, dull blue, 2'50 x 1*50. 

 Date, Coast S. C., Mch. 20; Oneida Co., N. Y., May 1; SE. Minn., Apl. 28. 



Is it due to the influence of the artists of the Orient that these 

 long-legged, long-necked birds are so frequently miscalled "Cranes?" 

 With head drawn in and legs trailing on behind, they flap slowly over 

 the water, resembling, no doubt, the "Cranes" of fans, screens, and 

 bronzes; nevertheless, they are Herons. With all a Heron's immovable 

 alertness they watch patiently for passing fish, sometimes wading with 

 extreme caution, placing one foot slowly after the other. They feed 

 both by day and night. Fishes, frogs, reptiles, even small mice, all 

 are welcome; and all are powerless to escape the lightning thrust of 

 the spearlike bill. Their voice is harsh and rasping. When alarmed 

 they utter a croak which is sometimes prolonged into a series of squawks. 

 They nest and roost in colonies, but at other times are solitary birds. 



194. b. A. h. wardi (Ridgw.). WARD'S HERON. The Florida repre- 

 sentative of A. h. herodias. The average differences in color between it and 

 A. h. herodias consist in its whiter lower parts, darker neck, and olive instead 

 of black legs. These differences, however, cannot always be relied upon, 

 and size is the character by which the two birds can best be distinguished, 

 wardi being the larger, as the following measurements show; L., 52'00; W., 

 1975-20-50; B., 6'40-6'80; Tar., 8'00-8'50. 



Range. Fla. and the Gulf coast to Tex. 



Nest, in colonies, a platform of sticks, usually in trees, sometimes bushes, 



fenerally over water. Eggs, 3-4, pale, dull blue, 2'65 x 1'85. Date, Tarpon 

 prings, Fla., Jan. 20. 



This is the Florida form of the Great Blue Heron, which it resembles 

 in habits. 



1908. CHAPMAN, F. M., Camps and Cruises, 119-122 (nesting). 



The EUROPEAN GREAT BLUE HERON (195. Ardea cinerea) is accidental 

 in southern Greenland. It may be distinguished from our species by the 

 white instead of rufous feathers on the legs. 



196. Herodias egretta (GmeL). EGRET. Ads. in breeding plumage. 

 Entire plumage pure white; about fifty straight 'aigrette' plumes grow from 

 the interscapular region and reach beyond the tail; legs and feet black; bill 

 yellow; lores orange, bordered below by greenish. Ads. after the breeding 

 season and Im. Without the interscapular plumes. L., 41 '00; W., 15*00; 

 Tar., 5-60; B., 4.50. 



Range. Temperate and tropical Am. Breeds in Ore. and Calif., and 

 from N. C., Fla., the Gulf coast, and Mex. s. to Patagonia; formerly bred 

 n. to N. J. and Wise.; winters from the Gulf of Mex. southward; casual to 

 Man., Que., N. Y-, New England, and N. S. 



Washington, not common and irregular S. R., May- Aug. Long Island, 

 rare from July-Oct. Ossining, A. V. N. Ohio, tolerably common S. R., 

 Mch. 20-Oct. 10. SE. Minn. A. V. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in trees or bushes over water. 



