ARDEID.K — THE IIKllOXS — FLORIDA. 



47 



tilt re in rapid suceossioii. Wiicii it liiis ()l)tiiiiu'(l ciioui,'!!. it ivtircs to some quiet 

 ntii'iit, and there remains in reiiusc until its luuij{er returns. In this state it is 

 usually well on its j,'uar(l ajjainst the approach of (lan<,'er. .hist before sunset it may 

 iihvavs be .seen a},'ain searehiny for food. When satisfied, it usually ri.ses to the 

 hiij;lit of fifty or sixty yards in the air, and then Hies in u straight line to its roost- 

 iii.;-plaee. Very few were seen on the St. .John in the winter, but on several oeca- 

 sidiis sonu' were nu't with on small ponds in the pine-barrens, attraeted there by the 

 l;u';,'i' numlx-r of froj,'s. its tiij;ht is said to l»e very similar to that of the /lofuririnnii. 

 \\ Inn just about to alight, it descends with eireidar sailing;, but otherwise Hies, with 

 constant Happin}j;s, in a direct line; during' adverse winds it Hies very low. Except 

 when breeding, it is very shy and vij,Mhint; but when engaged in incubation it 

 appears to lay aside all its usual watchfulness. 



Mr. Audubon regarded it as strictly diurnal in its habits. Mr. Moore is very 

 positive that the statenu'ut made by Mr. Audubon in reference to the habits of this 

 bird— namely, that where fish are i)lentiiid on the shallows near the slunx' it will run 

 briskly through the water, striking here and there, capturing several in suecessiou 

 — is very incorrect as apjdied to this bird, though true of the /iitlurln'tniii, tho nnit/!- 

 ilissi'iii'i, and the mfn. It is not kiujwn even when very ycnnig, at an age when 

 all birds are rather imiu'tuous feeders, to run, or even walk briskly through the 

 water; it never forgets to move slowly. Such acts of indiscretion r.nd greediu'^ss 

 have never been detected in the manners or motions of this Heron. Only wluMi 

 suddenly alarnu'd will it lay aside its calm and dignitted demeanor, and then nuini- 

 fcst the utmost confusion, awkwartlness, and end)arrassment. 



This species is more disposed to Hy about, with its neck stretched forward to its 

 full length, using it as a front rudder to assist its legs — the true rudder — in guiding 

 its ccmrse. This Heron is not a serajjer or ralcer ; and although it often feeds in 

 close proximity to the rtindidisnimu, does not, so far as known, imitate its manner 

 (if procuring food. 



in Florida it breeds as early as the first of Mareh — a full month earlier than in 

 ijouisiana, and two months sooner than in New Jersey. In the Florida Keys it 

 places its nest upon the tops of the tangled cactus ; in Louisiana, on low bushes of 

 tlic water-willow ; and in its more northern abodes, on the tojjs of cedars. Wherever 

 I'diuid, it is almost always sure to be in eompany with other species. The heronries 

 in the southern portions of the country are often of astonishing size. The nest, in 

 whatever situation it nuiy be placed, is always formed of dry sticks intermixed with 

 the leaves of various trees, grass, or moss. It is nearly flat, aiul without regular 

 lining. In Florida, the miml)er of eggs is three, rarely four, and never five, and 

 their average size is said to be 1.75 inches in length by 1.25 in breadth. They are 

 about the size of the eggs of the raiK/idlsshiKi, and of the same color, but are more 

 elongated. 



Two eggs of this bird (Xo. 117), taken by Dr. Uaclnnan from a nest near Charles- 

 ton, S. C. measure, one 1.80 inches in lengtli by l.l'O in In-eadtli, the other 1.81 

 inches by 1.30. They are of an elongati'd oval shai)e, more so than those of any other 

 Herons, and the greenish tinge of Prussian blue with wiiich they are uniformly 

 washed is also deeper than is usual in the egg of a Heron. 



^Ir. Moore states that at Sarasota ]>ay the eggs of this species are laid from April 

 loth to May loth — not agreeing with Mr. Audubon in point of time. 



