602 GREAT AMERICAN EGRET. 



more southern parts two broods are often raised in a season, but in the 

 Jerseys there is, I believe, never more than one. While travelling, 

 early in spring, between Savannah in Georgia and Charleston in South 

 Carolina, I saw many of these Egrets on the large rice plantations, 

 and felt some surprise at finding them much wilder at that period of 

 their migrations than after they have settled in some locality for the 

 purpose of breeding. I have supposed this to be caused by the change 

 of their thoughts on such occasions, and am of opinion that birds of all 

 kinds become more careless of themselves. As the strength of their 

 attachment toward their mates or progeny increases through the pro- 

 cess of time, as is the case with the better part of our own species, 

 lovers and parents performing acts of heroism, which individuals ha- 

 ving no such attachment to each other would never dare to contemplate. 

 In these birds the impulse of affection is so great, that when they 

 have young they allow themselves to be approached, so as often to fall 

 victims to the rapacity of man, who, boasting of reason and benevo- 

 lence, ought at such a time to respect their devotion. 



The American Egrets are much attached to their roosting places, to 

 which they remove from their feeding grounds regularly about an hour 

 before the last glimpse of day ; and I cannot help expressing my dis- 

 belief in the vulgar notion of birds of this family usually feeding by 

 night, as I have never observed them so doing even in countries where 

 they were most abundant. Before sunset the Egrets and other Herons 

 (excepting perhaps the Bitterns and Night Herons) leave their feeding 

 grounds in small flocks, often composed of only a single family, and 

 proceed on wing in the most direct course, at a moderate height, to 

 some seciu-e retreat more or less distant, according to the danger they 

 may have to guard against. Flock after flock may be seen repairing from 

 all quarters to these places of repose, which one may readily discover 

 by observing their course. 



Approach and watch them. Some hundreds have reached the 

 well-known rendezvous. After a few gratulations you see them lower 

 their bodies on the stems of the trees or bushes on which they have 

 alighted, fold their necks, place their heads beneath the scapular feath- 

 ers, and adjust themselves for repose. Daylight returns, and they are 

 all in motion. The arrangement of their attire is not more neglected by 

 them than by the most fashionable fops, but they spend less time at 

 the toilet. Their rough notes are uttered more loudly than in the even- 



