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LOUISIANA HERON. 



Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. 



PLATE CCXVII. Male. 



Delicate in form, beautiful in plumage, and graceful in its move- 

 ments, I never see this interesting Heron, without calling it the Lady of 

 the Waters. Watch its motions, as it leisurely walks over the pure sand 

 beaches of the coast of Florida, arrayed in the full beauty of its spring 

 plumage. Its pendent crest exhibits its glossy tints, its train falls grace- 

 fully over a well defined tail, and the tempered hues of its back and 

 wings contrast with those of its lower parts. Its measured steps are so 

 light that they leave no impression on the sand, and with its keen eye 

 it views every object around with the most perfect accuracy. See, it has 

 spied a small fly lurking on a blade of grass, it silently runs a few steps, 

 and with the sharp point of its bill it has already secured the prey. The 

 minnow )ust escaped from the pursuit of some larger fish has almost rushed 

 upon the beach for safety ; but the quick eye of the Heron has observed 

 its motions, and in an instant it is swallowed alive. Among the herbage 

 yet dripping with dew the beautiful bird picks its steps. Not a snail can 

 escape its keen search, and as it moves around the muddy pool, it secures 

 each water lizard that occurs. Now the sun's rays have dried up the 

 dews, the flowers begin to droop, the woodland choristers have ended their 

 morning concert, and like them, the Heron, fatigued with its exertions, 

 seeks a place of repose under the boughs of the nearest bush, where it 

 may in safety await the coolness of the evening. Then for a short while 

 it again searches for food. Little difficulty does it experience in this ; 

 and at length, with the last glimpse of day, it opens its wings, and flies 

 off towards its well-known roosting-place, where it spends the night con- 

 tented and happy. 



This species, which is a constant resident in the southern parts of the 

 peninsvila of the Floridas, seldom rambles far from its haunts during the 

 winter season, being rarely seen at that period beyond Savannah in Geor- 

 gia to the eastward. To the west it extends to the broad sedgy flats 

 bordering the mouths of the Mississippi, along the whole Gulf of Mexico, 

 and perhaps much farther south. In the beginning of spring, it is 



