42 



ALTRICIAL fJRALLATORES — IIEUODIONES. 



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son is extremely unsuspicious and easily approached. It acquires its full plumage 

 the second year, but continues to increase in size for several years. The flesh of 

 the young bird is said to afford good eating. Its food consists of small fry, water 

 insects, slugs, snails, leeches, and aipiatic lizards. 



According to Mr. Moore, it is a true Kn-dpi'r or rukrr ; but, like the Jleddish Egret, 

 resorts to this practi(!e much less freipiently than the mndklissliHU. It saunters 

 about at times in tlie waters of tlie l>ay, ne.;; the shores, on sandbars, and in the 

 fresh jKUids, in an awkward and heedless manner. There is less dash and impetuosity 

 in its style of fishing, or seeking its i)rey, than in that of the Reddish Egret, although 

 it runs through the clear water of the J>ay, with its wings exi)anded, and sonu'tiuu's 

 flapping, suddenly .vheeling. and halting to keej) its eyes on the flying flsh. At 

 other times — imitating the little (ireen Heron — having noticed some object near the 

 surface, a yard or more distant, it lowers its head, d(mbles up its neck, draws its head 

 back to its shoulder.s, holds its bill in a line with its back, which is parallel to the 

 surface of the water, and creeping al -ng by very slow steps till within striking 

 distance, thrusts its bill forward suddenly at the object. This is a very common 

 practice, either in the liay or in fresh ponds, and only this bird and the Green Heron 

 adopt this catlike mode of creeping, crouching, and springing upon their prey. 



Eggs of this species in my collection, obtained by Dr. Bryant in Florida, measure 

 1.80 inches in length by LS'2 in breailth. They are oval in shape, one end but just 

 perceptibly more obtuse than the other. Their color is Prussian blue, with a slight 

 shading of green, and of a deeper tint than most of the eggs of this family. 



Mr. Moore thinks that this bird has at least two broods in a season, as he has 

 found fresh eggs laid April 10, May 10. and June 1. On the ."lOtli of March, 1874. 

 he found a nest of this species containing six eggs, and on April 15 it had Ave young 

 and one egg. 



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Genus FLORIDA, Baird. 



Florida, Baird, B. N. Am. l£r>8, tl71. Type, Jnlcu cccrulea, Linn. 



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F. carulea. 



Gen. Char. Small Herons, ilurk plumbeous, with maroon-colored necks ; pure white, with 

 bluish tips t<j some of the primaries ; or with the plumage variously intermediate between these 



