252 
NESTS AND EGGS OF 
Some live apart, but the rule is to dwell in companies. It is common to 
find them and the Kight Heron living together on friendly terms. 
The nest is entirely built of sticks, with finer ones on the inside, 
is the work of both birds, and occupies but a short time in building, 
usually not more than two days. The eggs are deposited at the rate of 
one a day, chiefly on consecutive days. Incubation commences shortly after 
the eggs are laid, and is mainly the result of the female, who, for nearly 
eighteen days, is a very assiduous sitter. While she is thus occupied the 
male is a faithful guardian and protector. He administers to her his 
choicest captures, and warns her of coming danger. When the nest is 
molested both birds hover near the tree, but beyond the reach of danger, 
and by the most deafening screams, seek to drive away the assailant, but 
they never venture upon an attack. If the nest has been despoiled, they 
immediately set to work to rej^air it ; or, if rifled of its treasures, do not 
long bewail the loss, but proceed to replenish it. Like most of its family, 
this species places the nest high up in tall trees, although instances have 
occurred where they were not more than twenty feet from the ground. 
The young birds are carefully attended and fed by the parents, and do 
not leave the nest until they are able to fly, which is the case when they 
are from four to five weeks old. Their food consists at first of worms, 
larvae of dragon-flies and aquatic beetles. But as they increase in age, 
fresh-water crabs, lizards, frogs, grasshoppers, etc., are brought to them in 
lai’ge numbers. Tliey do not mature until the next season. At first they 
have the head less crested than the adult. The back is devoid of the 
characteristic long plumes, but has the same glossy greenish color. The 
neck is simply reddish-brown, while the entire under parts have the white 
somewhat variegated with dark brown. 
The eggs of these birds are from three to four in number, oblong- 
oval in form, and of a pale light-blue color. The largest egg in a set of 
four before us measures 1.55 inches in length, and 1.19 in width; the 
smallest 1.50 in length, and 1.13 in width. Throughout its entire range 
the species is single-brooded. 
