AlinKID.K — TIIK IIKROXS — HERODIAS. 25 



Lake ^lichigaii and others of the larger hikes. Mr. Salvin found it common in Cen- 

 tral .t^ouerica, both on the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. It was much more solitary 

 in its habits than the candidissinui. Mr. G. C. Taylor also met with it at Tigre 

 Island, in Honduras, where it was not uncommon. It is an occasional visitant, both 

 in the spring and in the fall, to Bermuda. Leotaud speaks of it as a very common 

 species in Trinidad, where it was principally found on the lianks of the .sea, or of 

 rivers influenced liy the tides. It is said to hunt for fish in the daytime, and also to 

 feed on soft mollusks. It reposes on the branches of the mangrove-trees in a state of 

 continui'd iiiiiii()l)ility. It is found usually singly, or not more tlian two or three 

 together. Although very shy in its wild state, it is readily reconciled to captivity. 

 Confined in a courtyard or a garden, it becomes a very attractive ornament. The 

 brilliant whiteness of its plumage, the gracefulness of its movements, the elegance of 

 its plumes, and the dignity of its carriage, combine to make it very attractive. It will 

 watch for a rat or a moiise with complete immobility, when suddenly, and with a 

 surprising rapidity of movement, it seizes its prey. It devours everything it meets 

 with, sparing neither insect nor reptile. If another of this species is put in the same 

 enclosure, a furious contest is sure to ensue, which not unfrequently ends in the crip- 

 pling of one of the combatants. They strike furious blows at each other witli their 

 beaks, but these are usually warded off. In the struggle they interlace their feet and 

 wings, and not unfrequently one of the wings gets broken : this ends the contest. 



The Egret is a resident of Trinidad, breeds there, and never leaves the island. It 

 is given by Dr. Gundlacli as breeding in Cuba, and by Mr. Gosse and Mr. March as a 

 resident in Jamaica ; and it is found in other West India Islands. Mr. C. W. Wyatt 

 mentions meeting with this species on the Lake of Paturia, in Colombia, S. A. Dr. 

 Burmeister records it as found everywhere throughout the La Plata region in South 

 America, on the banks of the rivers and among the lagoons, or among the reeds in 

 marshy ground from the Banda Oriental as far as the Andes. Specimens were 

 taken by Dr. Cunningham (Ibis, 18G7) near Port Ordway, in the Straits of Magellan. 



During the summer this species straggles along our entire Atlantic coast, and even 

 into the interior. Mr. Boardman informs me that it not only occasionally is taken 

 in the neighborhood of Calais, but that individuals have been shot as far up the Bay 

 of Fundy as Windsor, Nova Scotia. Several instances are on record of its having 

 been taken in Massachusetts. Mr. Allen reports two taken near Hudson by Mr. 

 Jillson in 1867 ; these were in immature plumage. Several others were seen at the 

 same time. A male in full ijlumage was taken at Ashland, in May, several years 

 since, and another near Lynn by ^Mr. Vickary. Mr. H. A. Purdie records the capture 

 of a fine specimen in Westford in the summer of 1873. In the summer of 1809 an 

 example of this species was shot on the < )nion or Winooski Kiver, in A'ermont. Though 

 rare in the interior, it is yet found in suitable localities. Professor Kumlien informs 

 me that in the months of August and September it is to be seen every year, fishing 

 on the edge of Lake Koskonong, Wisconsin. New Jersey is the most northern jioint 

 on the Atlantic coast where it has been known to breed. On Long Island, according 

 to Giraud, it is not a frequent visitor. Occasionally one may be seen, during the 

 summer months, on the marshes or meadows, or wading about on the shoals in pursuit 

 of small fish, on which it feeds, as well as frogs and lizards. The largest number 

 ever in sight at one time is five. These were seen on Coney Island, and were ex- 

 tremely shy and vigilant, eluding all attemjjts to secure them. In Wilson's time, or 

 about 1810, this Heron bred in considerable numbers in the extensive cedar-swamps 

 in the lower part of New Jersey, where their nests were built in societies on trees. 

 The young made their first ajjpearance in the marshes in August, in parties of twenty 



VOL. I. — 4 



