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THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 



Ardea Herodias, Linn, 



PLATE CCXI. Male. 



The State of Louisiana has always been my favourite portion of the 

 Union, although Kentucky and some other States have divided my affec- 

 tions ; but as we are on the banks of the fair Ohio, let us pause a while, 

 good Reader, and watch the Heron. In ray estimation, few of our waders 

 are more interesting than the birds of this family. Their contours and 

 movements are always graceful, if not elegant. Look on the one that 

 stands near the margin of the pure stream : — see his reflection dipping 

 as it were into the smooth water, the bottom of which it might reach 

 had it not to contend with the numerous boughs of those magnificent 

 trees. How calm, how silent, how grand is the scene ! The tread of the 

 tall bird himself no one hears, so carefully does he place his foot on the 

 moist ground, cautiously suspending it for a while at each step of his pro- 

 gress. Now his golden eye glances over the surrounding objects, in sur- 

 veying which he takes advantage of the full stretch of his graceful neck. 

 Satisfied that no danger is near, he lays his head on his shoulders, allows 

 the feathers of his breast to droop, and patiently awaits the approach of 

 his finned prey. You might imagine what you see to be the statue of a 

 bird, so motionless is it. But now, he moves ; he has taken a silent step, 

 and with great care he advances ; slowly does he raise his head from his 

 shoulders, and now, what a sudden start ! his formidable bill has trans- 

 fixed a perch, which he beats to death on the ground. See with what 

 difficulty he gulps it down his capacious throat ! and now his broad wings 

 open, and away he slowly flies to another station, or perhaps to avoid his 

 unwelcome observers. 



The " Blue Crane'' (by which name this species is generally known 

 in the United States) is met with in every part of the Union. Although 

 more abundant in the low lands of our Atlantic coast, it is not uncom- 

 mon in the countries west of the Alleghany ]\Iountains. I have found it 

 in every State in which I have travelled, as well as in all our " Terri- 

 tories." It is well known from Louisiana to Maine, but seldom occurs 

 farther east than Prince Edward's Island in the Gulf of St Lawrence, 



