North American Birds Eogs. 



97 



199. Louisiana Heron. Hydra nuitsd triroJor ruficoUif<. 



Range. — Sul)tropical America, nortli regularly to the Gulf States and casually 

 lartlier. 



This Heron is ofahout the sizeof the Reddish Egret, hutthe neck is longer, more 

 slender and dark, while the chin, throat and 

 underparts are white. The plumes from the 

 back are short, reaching barely to the end of 

 the tail. They nest in large colonies in com- 

 pany with Egrets and Little Blue Herons, 

 placing their nests in the mangroves, only 

 a few feet above the water. Tlieir nests are 

 the same as those of the other species, a 

 slight platform of sticks, and the three to 

 five eggs are practically not distinguishable 

 from those of the Snowy or Little Blue Herons . 

 Size 1.75 X l.o5. 



200. Little Blue Heron. Fluridrt ai'rulcit. 



Range. — South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north casual 

 Manitoba; west to Kansas and Nebraska. 



tij New England and 



Pale bluish green. J 



A smaller species than the preceding, 

 length tl inches, plumage a uniform slaty 

 blue (dianging to purplish red on the head 

 and neck. They also have a white phase, 

 but always show traces of the slaty blue, es- 

 peciallv on the primaries. Young birds are 

 always white. They Ijreed in immense 

 rookeries during April and May. Their 

 nestintt habits and eggs are very similar to 

 the last species, although the eggs average a 

 tritie smaller. Size 1.75 x 1.25. Data.— 

 Avery's Island, L(juisiana, April 21, 1896. 

 5 eggs. Nest a fiat and frail phitform of 

 twigs in a Mimosa tree growing in floating 

 turf, over deep water in a large swamp. 

 Collector, E. A. Mcllhenny. 



# 



■".I 



201. Green Heron. Biitori(lc>< ptrcftrcii^. 



Range.— Temperate and subtropical America, breeding north to the British 

 Provinces. 



This is the smallest of our Herons, and is well : -''??^r'i:.;; .. 



known all over the country. Sometimes they 

 breed in numbers in rookeries, in company with 

 the larger Herons, liut in most sections of the 

 country they will l)e found nesting, one or two 

 pairs together, along the border of some swamp 

 or stream. They have a greater diversity of build- 

 ing sites, thaii do any of the (jther Herons and 

 frecjuentlv nest a long ways from water. Their 

 nests may be found in alders, l)irches or even 

 apple tree's. It is the usual Hemn typeof platform, 



8 



I Light bluish gre 



