410 SNOWY HERON. 



think they rather prefer the islands in the fresh water lakes, as breeding places. They 

 nest about the middle of March, placing their domiciles in trees or bushes, at no great 

 height from the ground. The birds are quite shy and will seldom alight near the intruder, 

 even when they have young. These fine Herons are not in the least nocturnal, and will al- 

 ways resort to particular places, usually islands in the interior waters, to roost, assem- 

 bling in large numbers at sunset, and departing by day-break. They are easily tamed, if 

 taken young, and become quite intelligent. The Seminole Chief, Tiger, brought me a half 

 grown young from the Everglades, and it accompanied me on my trip through the Keys, 

 feeding readily on fish which my man caught for it. This bird was accustomed to sit on 

 the prow of a canoe which was towed astern of the yacht, and when hungry, the Heron 

 would walk deliberately along the rope, by which the smaller vessel was fastened to the 

 larger, and which was some ten feet long, and thus come on board. One day when it was 

 making this trip, a sudden flaw struck the sail, causing the rope to sway, and the bird was 

 thrown into the water. We were moving at the rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, and 

 the bow of the little boat swept past the Heron in an instant, but it appeared to know just 

 what to do, for, without making any useless struggles, it merely reached out and caught 

 the edge of the rapidly passing stern with its bill, gave a flap or two, and in a moment re- 

 gained its perch on the prow. This bird was afraid of strangers and whenever we landed 

 near a settlement, it would never wander far from its boat, taking refuge in it when any 

 one approached. When it saw me returning and wished to come to me, if a stranger was 

 about, it would take a wide circle, in order to avoid him, and run to meet me, with half 

 extended wings, chattering loudly. This note is used as an answer, even after the birds 

 become fully grown, and two which I possessed and brought North, would give it, even 

 when called at night. In spite of their gentle disposition, I am sorry to record that these 

 birds possess the same tyrannical disposition which characterizes their larger relatives, for the 

 first bird that I had, constantly tormented a half grown Anhinga that I owned and which was 

 accustomed to wander about with the Heron; and besides this, he killed one or two young 

 Louisiana Herons, while one of those that I brought North, performed a like service for a pet 

 Least Bittern which was quietly sunning itself on a porch. The ordinary note of these 

 Herons is a harsh scream given as they fly. The White Herons are partly migratory, some 

 going, at least, as far north as New Jersey to breed. 



ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA. 



Snowy Heron. 

 Ardea candidissima GM., Syst. Nat., I; 1788, 633. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, slender. Size, small. Tongue, long, and tapering gradually toward tip which is pointed. Head, 

 back, and breast, furnished with long, recurved, (iliuneutous plumes. 



COLOR. Adult. Pure, snowy white throughout. Iris, naked space in front of eye, legs, and base of bill, orange-yel- 

 low. Bill and feet, black. Youny. Similar but lacks the plumes, and the feet are black. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the white color, black bill, and small size. Distributed, in summer, from New Jersey to Key West; winter- 

 ing in Florida, Stragglers occasionally occur as fur north as New England. 



