LOUISIANA HERON. 137 



found abundantly in the Carolinas, and sometimes as far east as Mary- 

 land, or up the Mississippi as high as Natchez. You never find it far 

 inland : perhaps forty miles would be a considerable distance at any time 

 of the vear. It is at all seasons a social bird, moving about in company 

 with the Blue Heron or the White Egret. It also frequently associates 

 with the larger species, and breeds in the same places, along with the 

 White Heron, the Yellow-crowned Heron, and the Night Heron ; but 

 more generally it resorts to particular spots for this purpose, keeping by 

 itself, and assembling in great numbers. Those which visit the Carolinas, 

 or the country of the Mississippi, make their appearance there about the 

 first of April, or when the Egrets and other species of Heron seek the 

 same parts, returning to the Floridas or farther south about the middle 

 of September, although I have known some to remain there during mild 

 winters. When this is the case, all the other species may be met with in 

 the same places, as the Louisiana Heron is the most delicate in constitu- 

 tion of all. Whilst at St Augustine in Florida, in the month of January, 

 I found this species extremely abundant there ; but after a hard frost of 

 a few days, they all disappeared, leaving the other Herons, none of which 

 seemed to be affected by the cold, and returned again as soon as the Fah- 

 renheit thermometer rose to 80^ There they were in full livery by the 

 end of February, and near Charleston by the 5th of April. 



Although timid, they are less shy than most other species, and more 

 easily procured. I have frequently seen one alight at the distance of a 

 few yards, and gaze on me as if endeavouring to discover my intentions. 

 This apparent insensibility to danger has given rise to the appellation of 

 Egrettefolle, which is given to them in Lower Louisiana. 



The flight of this beautiful Heron is light, rather irregular, swifter than 

 that of any other species, and capable of being considerably protracted. 

 They usually move in long files, rather widely separated, and in an undulat- 

 ing manner, with constant flappings. When proceeding towards their 

 roosts, or when on their migrations, they pass as high over the country as 

 other species; on the former occasion, they pass and repass over the same 

 tract, thus enabling the gunner easily to shoot them, which he may especial- 

 ly calculate on doing at the approach of night, when they are gorged with 

 food, and fly lower than in the morning. They may, however, be still 

 more surely obtained on their arriving at their roosting place, where they 

 alight at once among the lowest branches. On being shot at, they sel- 

 dom fly to a great distance, and their attachment to a particular place 



