288 



BRANCH CHORDATA 



The heronry or rookery is located in low trees on a small island or marsh. 

 Bitterns are found singly or in pairs. 



The herons, egrets, 1 and ibises have been so persistently hunted for their 

 plumes that some species are now quite rare. The snowy heron (Ard'ea 

 candidis'sima) and the American egret (Ard'ea egrel'la) (Fig. 234) are 

 the most beautiful of these. Their black legs and bills only intensify the 



Fig. 235. Sand-hill crane (Grus mexica'na). 



specimen.) 



Length, 44 inches. (From 



snowy whiteness of their plumage. The filmy aigrettes are like spun glass. 

 These number about fifty and are worn by the mother during the breeding 

 season only. To obtain these plumes the mother must be shot, and the 

 nestlings are left to perish simply to gratify the vanity of thoughtless 

 women. The sale of these aigrettes in the United States is now forbidden 

 by law. 



1 Apgar's " Birds of the United States." 



