THE GREAT BLUE HERON 



JOHN JAMES AUDUBON 



FEW of our waders are more interesting than the birds of 

 the Heron family. Their contours and movements are 

 always graceful, if not elegant. Look on the one that stands 

 near the margin of the pure stream! See his reflection 

 dipping as it were into the smooth water, the bottom of which 

 it might reach had it not to contend with the numerous 

 boughs of these magnificent trees! How calm, how silent, 

 how grand is the scene! The tread of the tall bird himself no 

 one hears, so carefully does he place his foot on the moist 

 ground, cautiously suspending it for a while at each step of his 

 progress. Now his golden eye glances over the surrounding 

 objects, in surveying which he takes advantage of the full 

 stretch of his graceful neck. Satisfied that no danger is near 

 he lays his head on his shoulder, allows the feathers of his 

 breast to droop and patiently waits the approach of his finny 

 prey. You might imagine what you see to be the statue of a 

 bird, so motionless it is. But now he moves; he has taken a 

 silent step and with great care he advances; slowly does he 

 raise his head from his shoulders, and now what a sudden 

 start! His formidable bill has transfixed a perch, which he 

 beats to death on the ground. See with what difficulty he 

 gulps it down his capacious throat, and then opens his broad 

 wings and slowly flies away to another station. 



The Great Blue Heron is met with in every part of the 

 Union. Although more abundant in the low lands of our 



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