DESTROYED FOR THEIR PLUMES 149 



straight, and the fish is seized between the mandibles. The 

 fish is not stabbed through and through, as is generally sup- 

 posed. In swallowing a fish, it is, of course, taken head first. 



Herons, egrets and ibises are gregarious, or sociable, in 

 their nesting habits. In other words, they are fond of nest- 

 ing together; and a place of many nesting birds is called either 

 a "heronry," or a "rookery." The nesting sites are chosen 

 with due regard to seclusion and food supplies. Usually the 

 heronry is located in low trees that stand on a small island, 

 or else grow up out of a swamp or bayou, so that without a 

 boat they are almost inaccessible. 



Thirty years ago the greatest and most numerous heron- 

 ries in the United States were in Florida,- on the headwaters 

 of the St. Johns, on the edge of the Everglades, the Big Cypress 

 Swamp and the small rivers and creeks that run down to the 

 sea. To-day it is difficult to find in Florida a heronry worthy 

 of the name, or one which belongs to a large assemblage of 

 birds; but there are a few, carefully protected by wardens. 

 Herons, egrets and ibises have been so persistently destroyed 

 for their "plumes" that not more than one-fiftieth of the 

 original number remains. 



As will be seen by the following table, the Order Hero- 

 diones contains quite a number of important water-birds 

 which are not herons: 



Order Herodiones 



FAMILIES. EXAMPLES. 



Heron Ar-de'i-dae Herons, Egrets and Bitterns. 



Stork Cic-o-ni'i-dae Wood Ibis. 



Ibis I-bid'i-dae White Ibis and Scarlet Ibis. 



Spoonbill Plat-a-le'i-dae Roseate Spoonbill. 



