GREAT BLUE HERON. 97 



Length to end of tail 48 inches, to end of claws 63 inches, extent of 

 wings 72 ; bill 5^, gape T/j ; tarsus 6|, middle toe and claw 5, hind toe 

 and claw 2^, naked part of tibia 4 ; wings from flexure 20 ; tail 7. 



The Female, when in full plumage, is precisely similar to the Male. 



On Prince Edward's Island, in the Gulf of St Lawrence, there is 

 a fine breeding-place of the Great Blue Heron, which is probably the 

 most northern on the Atlantic coast of North America. The birds there 

 are more shy than they usually are at the period of breeding, and in the 

 most cowardly manner abandon their young to the mercy of every in- 

 truder. A friend of mine who visited this place for the purpose of pro- 

 curing adult birds in their best plumage, to add to his already extensive 

 collection, found it extremely difficult to obtain his object, until he at 

 length thought of covering himself with the hide of an ox, under the dis- 

 guise of which he readily got within shot of the birds, which were com- 

 pletely deceived by the stratagem. 



