123* BIRDS OF ILLINOIB. 



more easily stalked. More often the heron first sees the in- 

 truder, and startles him by its harsh squawking cries as it flieg, 

 from its feeding place. 



Breeding colonies of this species \/ere formerly common in 

 many parts of the state, but they are becoming scarce in con- 

 sequence of wanton persecution by squirrel hunters and others. 

 They usually select the largest trees and build their bulky nests 

 of sticks on the highest branches, a dozen or more nests some- 

 times being built in one tree. 



The food of this bird consists of fishes, frogs, crawfish, etc., 

 large quantities of which must be sacrificed to appease its 

 voracious appetite, as many as ten "good-sized" fishes having 

 been disgorged at one time by a heron that was in haste to get 

 away. 



Subgenus Herodias Boie. 



Eerodias Boik, Isis, 1822, 559. Type, by elimination. Ardea egretta LnrK. 



SuBGEN. Chab. White Herons of large size, and without plumes, except in the breed- 

 ing season, when ornamented simply (in most species) by a long train of straight feathers, 

 with thick shafts, and long, sparse, decomposed, slender barbs, which grow from the dorsal 

 region and overhang the tail. Bill moderately slender, the upper and lower outlines al- 

 most parallel to near the end, where gently curved, the culmen more abruptly so than the 

 gonys, though the curve is quite gradual. Mental apex reaching a point about midway be- 

 tween the tip of the bill and the eye; malai- apex decidedly anterior to the frontal apex, aiid 

 extending to beneath the posterior end of the nostrils. Toes very long, the middle one 

 about two thirds the tarsus, the hallux much less than one half the former. Tibiie bare for 

 about one half their length, or for about the length of the middle toe. Anterior scutellae of 

 tarsus large, distinct, and nearly quadrate. Nuptial plumes confined to the anterior part of 

 the back, whence spring numerous long, straight, and thick shafts, reachinj;, when fuMy 

 developed, to considerably beyond the end of the tail, each stem ha\'ing along each side 

 very long, slender, and distant flbrillaB. Tail even, of twelve broad feathers. Lower hind 

 neck well feathered. Plumage entirely pui-e white at all stages and seasons. 



This subgenus, like Ardea, Garzetta, etc., is nearly cosmopoli- 

 tan, being wanting only in the islands . of the South Pacific 

 and in the colder latitudes of other regions. It contains but 

 a single American species, which has a more extensive range 

 than any other of the American herons, excepting only the 

 Night Heron, its regular habitat extending from the Uoitad 

 States to Patagonia. 



