E 
212 Mr. Peabody on the 
ciate with birds of habits similar to his own, and 
there seeks his subsistence from the waters or the 
muddy shores. If fishes or frogs make their appear- 
ance, for which he waits patiently, he seizes them 
with great, adroitness ; dragonflies and other insects 
also serve to help out his fare. When surprised, he 
rises with a hollow scream, but flies only to a little 
distance, as if considering just how far it is neces- 
sary to go. The nest is made of twigs, and placed 
on trees; the eggs four, of a pale blue. They some- 
times breed apart, sometimes in company with each 
other, and not unfrequently put themselves under 
the protection of the larger herons. They come from 
the south in April, and return in October, not in large 
flocks, but in small family parties. 
The Least Brrrern, Ardea ezilis, the smallest of 
this class of birds, is so slender that it can pass be- 
tween two books set an inch apart from each other, 
without displacing them. From their habit of re- 
tiring into extensive marshes, they are but seldom 
. Seen, as they rise only in sudden alarm. At such 
times, they fly slowly and timidly; but, like other 
nocturnal birds, as the enemy comes on, their flight 
grows confident and strong. Its food consists of 
snails, tadpoles, field mice and moles, which it col- 
lects, sometimes by day, but more frequently at 
night; in the day, they sleep so soundly that they 
are sometimes approached and caught in the hand. 
Their nest is among coarse grasses, and either on the 
ground or attached to the stalks a little way above 
it. It is formed of dried weeds, and contains three 
