178 THE HERON. 



all the sea coast from Connecticut to Florida. This 

 is not, like most of the tribe, a bird of passage, but a 

 constant inhabitant of the country. 



The Great Herons build their nests and rear their 

 young in the Carolirias and other southern states. 

 Their places of building are solitary cedar swamps, 

 where each bird selects the tallest tree she can find, 

 and makes her nest on its top. The materials are 

 chiefly dry sticks, with small twigs for the lining of 

 the inside. A dozen pair or more often build in the 

 same neighbourhood. 



The principal food of this Heron is fish, which it 

 catches with much skill and dexterity. He will stand 

 at the edge of the water, with his neck curved in the 

 form of an S, sometimes perfectly still for hours, watch- 

 ing for his prey. But when a fish comes within his 

 reach, he unbends his neck and darts upon it with such 

 sure aim, and surprising swiftness, that there is no 

 chance of escape. He is also fond of mice, grasshop- 

 pers, and frogs. 



This Heron has great strength of wing, and when 

 on a journey, flies very high in the air. They are of- 

 ten seen far inland, winging their way from the lakes 

 to the ocean. On these occasions they move slowly, 

 but in a straight and business-like manner, neither 

 turning, nor looking, to the right or left. 



These birds are exceedingly shy, and very fearful 

 of the presence of man. When they light, it is com- 

 monly in the middle of some extensive marsh, where 

 they can see the approach of a gunner at a long dis- 

 tance, and they generally take care that he does riot 

 come too near them. 



