26 



ALTRiriAL (IRALLATORES - IIERODIOXES. 





or tliirty. an«l were frequently sliot. Tlie old birds were too shy to be often secured. 

 Their food, as shown by tlie reuiuins found in their stomach, consists of frogs, lizards, 

 small tish, insects, seeds of a si)ecies of iii/mji/ura, water-snakes, mice, moles, and 

 other kinds of vermin. 



Audubon nu-t with this species abundantly in Florida, where it is resident through- 

 out the year. It is found along the (Julf coast to Mexico; but is rarely met with 

 inland, and \isually not more than fifty miles from the coast, and then always near 

 some large river. It freciuents, for purposes of reproduction, low, nuirshy districts 

 covered with large trees, the nuirgin of streams, jtonds, or bayous, or gloomy swamps 

 covered with water. In a few instances Mr. .\udubon met with its nests in low trees, 

 and on sandy islands at a short distan<^e from the mainland. Early in December Mr. 

 Audidion found this Jleroii congregated together in vast numbers, ai)i)arently for the 

 purjiose of nuiting, in East Florida. He dt'scribcs the courtship of the males as very 

 curious and interesting. Their throats swelling out in the manner of Cormorants, 

 emitting gurgling sounds, they strutted round the fenuiles, raising their long plumes 

 almost erect, and pacing majestically before the objects of their selection. Conflicts 

 now and then took place, but they were not so frequent Hi, he had been led to siqjpose. 

 These performances were continued from day to day for nearly a week, occupying 

 the warnun- ])ortion of the day. 



The flight of this Heron is well sustained and vigorous. On foot its movements 

 are graceful, its step meusurcd, its long neck being gracefully retracted aiul curved. 

 Its long and silky ti'ain makes its appearance a few weeks i)revious to the love 

 season, and continues to grow and to increase in beauty until incubation has com. 

 menced. After this period it begins to deteriorate, and disappears about the time the 

 young bird leaves the nest. 



Tliose that migrate northward leave Florida about the first of March ; but none 

 reach New Jersey before the middle of May. In Florida the young are full grown 

 by the 8th of ^lay ; in Xew Jersey, not l)efore the 1st of August : in the former 

 State two broods are raised in a season. 



Regarding the supi)osed California form of the White Egret as identical Avith the 

 eastern ff/rcffn, T can find no mention of any jHCul'ir characteristics differing from 

 those found on the Southern Atlantic or the (Julf coast. Dr. Cooper has found 

 the Californian birds abundant in the southern part of that State throughout the year. 

 Being without doubt the bird referred to by Dr. Newberry as the Ardt'ft orcidenUd'is, 

 it is found in the sunnuer as far north as the Columbia Hiver. It in all probability 

 breeds throughout this extended range, chiefly in swampy woods near the sea. Dr. 

 Cooper met with a large number in June, in a grove near the mouth of the Santa 

 Margarita Hiver. He also met with it in Fay near Santa Barbara, and has procured 

 examples also near Fort Mojave. 



Mr. Ki(,'gway mentions having met with this \)ird once, in June, near Sacramento; 

 and on several occasions in the vicinity of Fyra rid Lake, in the months of December 

 and May. 



Cai)tain Bendire informs me. January, 1875, that a large heronry of this species 

 exists in the neighborhood of Fort Harney, about seventy -five miles south of Canyon 

 City, Grant (U)unty, Oregon. 



The nests of this Egret vary greatly in position : some are found on the tops of 

 lofty cypress trees from erne hundred to one hundred and fifty feet from the ground, 

 others on low .nangroves not six feet above the water, and others in intermediate 

 positions. T)," nest is always a large flat stnu'ture, comjwsed of sticks loosely put 

 together. It usually overhangs the water, and is resorted to year after year by the 



