62 BLUE HERON. 
even on the mainland of that State, it places its nest on the branches 
of the cedar and other suitable trees. Wherever you find its breeding 
place, you may expect to see other birds in company with it, for like 
all other species, excepting perhaps the Louisiana Heron, it rarely ob- 
jects to admit into its society the Night Heron, the Yellow-crowned 
Heron, or the White Egret. 
The heronries of the southern portions of the United States are 
often of such extraordinary size as to astonish the passing traveller. 
I confess that I myself might have been as sceptical on this point as 
some who, having been accustomed to find in all places the Heron to 
be a solitary bird, cannot be prevailed on to believe the contrary, had 
I not seen with my own eyes the vast multitudes of individuals of dif- 
ferent species breeding together in peace in certain favourable locali- 
ties. Such persons may be excused from giving that credit to my ac- 
count of the Passenger Pigeon which posterity will, I trust, accord 
to it. 
The nest of the Blue Heron, wherever situated, is loosely formed 
of dry sticks, sometimes intermixed with green leaves of various trees, 
and with grass or moss, according as these materials happen to be 
plentiful in the neighbourhood. It is nearly flat, and can. scarcely be 
said to have a regular lining. Sometimes you see a solitary nest fixed 
on a cactus, a bush, or a tree; but a little beyond this you may observe 
from six to ten, placed almost as closely together as you would have put 
them had you measured out the space necessary for containing them. 
Some are seen low over the water, while others are placed high ; for, 
like the rest of its tribe, this species is rather fond of placing its tene- 
ment over or near the liquid element. 
The eggs are usually three, rarely four; and I have never found a nest 
of this species containing five eggs, as is stated by Wi1son, who, pro- 
bably found a nest of the Green Heron containing that number among 
others of the present species. ‘They measure an inch and three quar- 
ters in length, by an inch and a quarter in breadth, being about the 
size of those of Ardea candidissima, though rather more elongated, and 
precisely of the same colour. 
The young bird is at first almost destitute of feathers, but scantily 
covered with yellowish-white down. When fully fledged, its bill 
and legs are greenish-black, and its plumage pure white, or slightly 
