46 



ALTIUCIAL (IIJALLATUUES — IIEUODIONES. 



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food tliroughont the day, from inoniiiij,' until nij,'lit, and this consists of tisli, worms, 

 (•rustaci'a, and tlic like. It is always to lu' scimi in tiocks of various ap's and jilu- 

 niaj,'i's, i)ri'st'nting a sinj,'ular sij,dit, some bcin;; entirely blue, others wholly white, 

 and again others presentin},' a sin}j;ular condiinatiou of both i-olors very irregularly 

 distributed. Towards night the whole tlock rej)airs to a tree, usually the same one, 

 to pass the night. This bird can lie accustomed to captivity, but only with dittieulty. 

 It is a resident species in Triniihid, and perhaps in all the West India Ishxnds. It is 

 abundant in Cuba, where it breeds, It is also resident and breeds in Jamaica; but, 

 according to (Josse, is not very abuuihmt on that island. Mr. C. W. Wyatt mentions 

 finding it in Colombia, South .Vmcrica. near the Lake of Paturia, and Dr. lUirmeister 

 found it conuuou on the shores of the Rio Negro and the Alercedes Kiver. 



This Heron has been found breeding in all favorable districts intermediate be- 

 tween Florida and Xew Jersey, on the coast, and a few wander into the interior'. 

 Mr. Brewster met with a single individual in Western N'irginia. During the sum- 

 mer it wanders along the .Vtlantic coast. Well-attested instances are known in 

 Avhicli several examples have been taken in 3Iassachusetts ; usually these occur in 

 the fall. It is said to be rare on the shores of Long Ishmd. It occurs along the 

 Gulf coast from Florida to Mexico, and thence southward, probably to Hrjizil. Mr. 

 Dresser found it very common near ^latamoras during the sunnuer. He did not find 

 it frecpienting the lagoons, but generally met with it on the Eio (irande, either close 

 under the banks, or perched on some old log in the stream. He noticed a few near 

 San Antonio, and also on the IJrazos and Colorado rivers. 



Gosse speaks of this s])ecies as less susjiicious than most of its tribe, frequently 

 allowing the beholder to stand and admire it without alarm. Its nuitions are delib- 

 erate and slow while watching for prey, yet in the act of seizing as sudden as the 

 lightning flash. It feeds principally on small crabs, which are usually found miudi 

 changed in the stomach by the process of digestion. In others he has found (pian- 

 tities of small eel-like tish and insects. An individual that fell wounded into deep 

 water, although one foot was disabled, swam vigorously for several yards, keeping 

 in an uj)right posture. 



"Wilson mentions finding this species breeding among the cedars near the sea- 

 beach at Cape May, in company with the Snowy, the Night, and the Green Herons. 

 He shot two specimens in May, and found their nests ; these were composed of 

 small sticks, were built in the tops of red cedars, and contained five eggs each. 

 Although only found, in the Atlantic States, in the nt ighborhood of the sea, this bird 

 seemed particularly fond of freshwater bogs or the edges of salt-marshes. These 

 it often frecpiented, wading in search of tad|)oles, lizards, mud-worms, and various 

 insects. In pursuit of these, it moves actively, sometimes making a run at its i)rey. 

 It is very silent, intent, and watchful. In the winter it is confined within narrow 

 limits along our southern coast. In most parts of Florida it is a constant resi- 

 dent, some going northward in the summer to breed, others leaving in the winter 

 for Texas and Mexico. About New Orleans the migrants ajjpear, moving north, 

 in March. They never leave the shores of rivers and estuaries. On the ^Mississippi 

 few are found above Natchez. They return southward in September. In Florida, 

 Mr. Audubon found this si)ecies associating with the crjMtn and the liulovk'uma, 

 roosting with them in the thick evergreen bushes which cover the central portions of 

 the islands. It spends the day princii)ally on the head-waters of the rivers and the 

 freshwater lakes of the interior, i)ref erring tlu> soft nuui-l)anks, where small crabs 

 are abundant. In fishing, this bird, instead of jjatie .\v watching the approach of 

 its prey, like the larger species, moves briskly through the water, striking here and 



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