ARDF.A EGKE1TA. 409 



very shy, it being often quite impossible to go within half a mile of them. A few days 

 after securing the two young, I was standing on a little islet which was so entirely sur- 

 rounded with mud flats, that we were obliged to anchor our yacht a mile away. This small 

 key was completely covered with nests of the Great White Heron, some of which were 

 empty, and some contained young nearly fledged, while there were eggs in one or two. 

 When we cast anchor, a cloud of old birds rose up from the place, and flew slowly away, 

 quite out of sight. They were all snowy white, not a colored specimen of any species, be- 

 in^ aiuoiii; them; nor were there any among the young, left behind, for I carefully exam- 

 ined every nest, as they were all built low, some not over five feet from the ground. The 

 young were scattered about on the branches, but when approached, retreated to their large 

 nests, and there lay perfectly flat. I waited here for three hours, trusting that the old 

 binl.s would return, but none came, so taking one of the largest young, which was about 

 two thirds grown, away with me, I left the spot. This was the only breeding place lever 

 saw, devoted exclusively to the Great White Herons. I had found a few breeding on high 

 mangroves, a short time previous, in company with the Great Blue and Florida Herons, 

 and had secured one or two eggs, but this being about the first of May, was much too late, 

 for they evidently begin to lay as early as February. The Great Whites are, beyond all 

 doubt, the shyest of the Herons; but in spite of this, their numbers are rapidly decreasing, 

 for they were evidently much more abundant when the species was discovered by Audu- 

 bon, some forty-five years ago; and the total extermination of this prince of Waders, 

 on the Florida Keys, is a mere matter of time. These majestic Herons may be recognized 

 when Hying at a distance, by the regular, prolonged flappings of the wings. The young 

 bird which I had captured, proved so untamable and savage, striking at everything that 



came near, that I soon gave it its liberty. 







ARDEA E.GRETTA. 

 White Heron. 



Ardea egretta GM., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, K29. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Tongue, very long, thin, and gradually tapering toward tip which is point- 

 ed. Hack, furnished with long, filamentous plumes. Lower harf of tibia, naked. 



C'ni.oR. Adult. Pure, snowy white throughout. Legs, black. Iris, bill, and naked space about head, bright yel- 

 low. Young. Similar to the adult, but lucks the plumes. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the medium size, pure white color, yellow bill, and black legs. Distributed, in summer, from New 

 Jersey, southward. Stragglers are occasionally found as far north as New Brunswick. Winters from the Carolinas, south. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 38'25; stretch, 55'00; wing, 14'25; tail,5 - 25; bill,3'85; tar- 

 sus, .V25. 1/mgfit specimen, 41'50; greatest extent of wing, 58'50; longest wing, 15'50; tail, 6'5(>; bill, 4 - 60; tarsus, 6-50. 

 Shorti-st .-.pLTimni, :!1'7.">; smallest extent of wing, 53-53; shortest wing, 13'00; tail, 4'00; bill, 3' 15; tarsus, 4'00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND ECUS. 



Nfsls, placed in trc'esor bushes, composed of -sticks luuscly arranged. Eyys, from two to four in number, varying from 

 elliptical to oval in form, )inlc liluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from l - 40x2'20 to r65x2'35. 



HAI'.ITS 



One of the most abundant Herons in Florida, are the White, and they are constantly 

 resident throughout the State, not only in the interior, but also on the coast; tllough 1 



