LOUISIANA HERON. 139 



we took with us a good number of their young. It was surprising to see 

 the little fellows moving about among the branches, clinging to them in 

 all sorts of curious positions, and persevering in forcing their way toward 

 the water, when over which they at once dropped, and swam off from us 

 with great vigour and speed. When seized with the hand, they defended 

 themselves to the utmost. At this early period, they plainly shewed the 

 sprouting feathers of the crest. Many Crow Blackbirds had nests on the 

 same mangroves, and a Fish-Hawk also had formed its nest there at a 

 height of not more than five feet from the water. On the 24th of May, 

 these Herons were fully fledged, and able to fly to a short distance. In 

 this state we, with some difiiculty, procured one aUve. Its legs and feet 

 were green, the bill black, but its eyes, like those of an adult bird, were 

 of a beautiful red hue. Many were caught afterwards and taken as pas- 

 sengers on board the Marion. They fed on any garbage thrown to them 

 by the sailors ; but whenever another species came near them, they leaped 

 towards its biU, caught hold of it as if it had been a fish, and hung to it 

 until shaken off' by their stronger associates. On several occasions, how- 

 ever, the Ardea occidentalis shook them off" violently, and after beating 

 them on the deck, swallowed them before they could be rescued ! 



The place farthest up on the Mississippi where I have found this spe- 

 cies breeding was on Buffalo Creek, about forty miles below Natchez, 

 and ten miles in a direct line from the great river. To the eastward I 

 have found them, breeding in company with the Green Heron and the 

 Night Heron, within a few miles of Charleston. 



During summer and autumn, after the old birds have left their young, 

 both are frequently seen in the rice-fields, feeding along the ditches by 

 which the water is led to those places. At this season they are uncom- 

 monly gentle and easily approached. 



The Louisiana Heron acquires the full beauty of its plumage the 

 second year after its birth, although it continues for some time to increase 

 in size. The train and crest lengthen for several years until they become 

 as represented in the plate. To procure specimens in such complete 

 plumage, however, requires some care, for this state does not last many 

 days after pairing has taken place, and by the time the young are hatch- 

 ed much of this fine plumage has dropped. When autumn has come, 

 only a few of the long barbs remain, and in winter no appearance of them 

 can be seen. 



The flesh of the young birds affords tolerable eating. The food of 



