AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



225 



tree were two nests, one with three eggs and the other with three eggs 

 and a young bird. The old birds were quite excited and continually 

 flew around me, but at a respectful distance. They are very pretty if 

 not exactly graceful birds, when in flight. They fly in the characteris- 

 tic heron fashion with the head drawn in close to the body, and the legs 

 trailing behind- After I had remained quiet for about ten minutes, 

 they began to settle down in the tops of the trees, their light plumage 

 ■contrasting very effectually with the dark green of the pines. None of 

 them showed any disposition to return to their nest while I was there, 

 although one did alight on the top of the tree just above the nest, and 

 barely six feet from my head. It is probable that their young are fed 

 mostly during the early morning and after dusk, and not so often dur- 

 ing the day. A Red-shouldered Hawk, which had young within a short 

 distance from the heronry, proved a constant source of worry to the 

 lierons, and doubtless kept his larder well supplied with young herons. 



Photo from life by Alfred J. Meytr. 



YOUNG NIGHT HERONS. 



