The Home-Life of the American Egret 



63 



flew from their nests 

 in the upper branches. 

 It was a confusing and 

 fascinating scene, an 

 admirable climax to 

 the passage through 

 the weird forest. 



For a time, I was 

 content to sit quietly 

 in the boat and revel in 

 the charm and beauty 

 of the place, my en- 

 joyment unmarred by 

 the thought that at any 

 moment Satan, in the 

 guise of a plume- 

 hunter, might enter 

 this Eden. 



The Little Blue 

 and Louisiana Herons 

 nested at an average 

 height of six to eight 

 feet. One bush held 

 no less than thirty-two 

 nests, all of which con- 

 tained eggs, few young 

 of either species hav- 

 ing yet been hatched. 

 The Egrets nested at 

 an average height of 

 forty feet. Eggs were 

 in some nests, while in 

 others there were 

 nearly fledged young. 

 While far less shy than 

 I had before found 

 them, the birds were 

 still abundantly wary, 

 and obviously could be 

 observed to advantage 

 only from concealment. 

 After some search, a 

 group of nests was dis- 



AND FRO WITH CURVED NECK AND 

 STREAMING PLUMES" 



A SUDDEN TURN 



