362 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



a habit which they are said to retain when in a domesticated 

 state. They arrive in the spring, and linger on the shores till 

 the summer, when they hurry away to the desolate coasts of 

 the northern ocean, where they breed. They return in August, 

 and, as the weather grows cold, move off to the south, extending 

 their migration over a vast extent of country. The turnstone 

 flies with a loud twittering note, and runs with its wings low- 

 ered, but not rapidly. They do not collect in great numbers, 

 like the sandpipers, but are seen in small parties of three or 

 four. The bill resembles that of the nuthatch, and is used 

 with great skill in collecting food. It is strong enough to 

 break the shells of many small shell fish ; from others, it picks 

 out the flesh like the oyster catcher. 



The GREAT BLUE HERON, Ardea herodias, is a constant res- 

 ident in Massachusetts, searching for its prey, in winter, in 

 springs and ponds, which are not sealed up by the cold. It 

 seems indifferent to climate, but is not found very far to the 

 north, though it is seen westward as far as the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. It is a shy and suspicious bird, with most penetrating 

 and far-reaching powers of vision, so that it is extremely diffi- 

 cult to approach it, except in the depth of the wood. Their 

 principal food is fish ; but they have an extensive bill of fare, 

 embracing frogs, lizards, meadow mice, young rats, snakes and 

 birds. It does not refuse insects when it can find nothing bet- 

 ter ; but it prefers fish, and has been known to expose itself so 

 much in order to secure it, as to plunder a pond of its gold fish. 

 It suffered the penalty of its transgression, but not till it had 

 eaten the last fish. The amount which it will devour exceeds 

 belief. These birds have great strength and spirit, so as to 

 make it dangerous even for a man to encounter them, since 

 they seem to know the points most unguarded, and always aim 

 at the eye. The blue heron breeds under various circumstan- 

 ces, sometimes in communities, sometimes apart ; some nests 

 are in very tall trees, some lower, and others are on the ground. 

 The eggs are three, of a bluish white color, and larger than 

 those of a hen. The old ones provide very liberally for the 





