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BLUE HERON. 
ARDEA C@RULEA, Linn. 
PLATE CCCVII. Aputr Mate ann Youns. 
Atone with a few other Herons, this is, comparatively speaking, 
confined within narrow limits along our southern coast in winter. It 
occurs, however, in most parts of the Floridas, where it is a constant 
resident, and whence, at the approach of summer, vast multitudes are 
seen proceeding northward, in search of suitable places in which 
they may rear their young in security. Many, however, go south- 
ward, beyond the limits of the United States, and proceed coastwise 
to Texas and Mexico to spend the winter, especially the younger 
birds, when still in that singular white plumage which differs so much 
from that of the young of every other known species of this genus, 
except that of the Reddish Egret ( A, rufescens). At New Orleans, 
where it arrives at the same period, both from Mexico and the Flori- 
das, its first appearance in spring is about the beginning of March; 
at which time also multitudes leave the Floridas on their way east- 
ward, to settle in Georgia, the Carolinas, and other States farther 
east, as far as Long Island in that of New York. Beyond this, I 
believe, no birds of the species have been met with. They rarely, if 
ever, proceed far inland, or leave the shores of our large rivers and 
estuaries. On the Mississippi, the swamps and lakes on the borders 
of which are so well adapted to the habits of these birds, few indivi- 
duals are ever seen above Natchez. About the beginning of Sep- 
tember, by which time the young are able to shift for themselves, they 
return southward. 
When in the Floridas, during winter, I observed that the Blue 
Herons associated with other species, particularly the White Heron, 
Ardea alba, and the Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, all of which 
were in the habit of roosting together in the thick evergreen low 
bushes that cover the central parts of the islands along the coast. 
‘Their passage to and from their feeding places, is as regular as the 
rising and setting of the sun, and, unless frequently disturbed, they 
