288 



BRANCH CHORDATA 



The heronry or rookery is located in low frees on a small island or marsh. 

 Bitterns are found singly or in pairs. 



The herons, egret s,' and ibises have been so persistently hunted for their 

 plumes that some species are now quite rare. The snowy heron {Ard'ea 

 candidis'sima) and the American egret {Anl'ijii ir/ni'la) (Fig. 2'.'A) are 

 the most beautiful of these. Their black legs and bills only inlensify the 



Fig. 235. — Sand-hill crane 



(drus mexica'nn). 

 specimen.) 



Length, 44 inches. (From 



snowy whiteness of their plumage. The filnn' aigrettes are like spun gltiss. 

 These number about fifty and are worn by I he mother during the breeding 

 season only. To obtain these plumes the mother must be shot, and the 

 nestlings are left lo i)erish simply to gratify the vanity of thoughtless 

 women. The sale of these aigrettes in the United States is now forbidden 

 by law. 



1 Apgar's " Birds of the United States," 



