150 HERONS, STORKS, AND IBISES 



THE HERON FAMILY 



Ardeidae 



The Great Blue Hekon^ is the largest, handsomest 

 and most conspicuous Heron in North America — if not the 

 world. This is the bird so persistently called the "Blue 

 Crane"; and one of the first things for the beginner to learn 

 about birds is to call this bird a Heron, instead of a "crane"! 



Whether fishing in the shallows along the shore, or perch- 

 ing on a dead tree, or winging his way slowly and majestically 

 through the air, this is a fine, handsome bird, and a welcome 

 sight to see. Its height when standing fairly erect is 3 feet, 

 3 inches. It has plumes on its head, breast and back, which 

 American cranes do not have. It is never seen away from 

 watercourses, and, it may be added, in warm weather no 

 river scene is truly complete and perfect without one! 



When seen with closed wings, its upper neck and body 

 are of a bluish-slate color, and its under surfaces are white, 

 streaked up and down with black. In the North this bird 

 is shy, and afraid of being shot at; but in the tropics, where 

 they are not persecuted, I have sometimes approached within 

 thirty feet of full-grown birds without alarming them. 



The range of this bird is from the arctic regions southward 

 wherever the conditions of water, timber and food are suit- 

 able, to the West Indies and South America; but there are 

 many arid and treeless regions from which it is totally absent. 



The Little Gkeen Heron, or "Fly-up-the-Creek,"^ 

 is found throughout the well-watered regions of the United 



^ Ar-de'a her-o'di-as. Length, from 40 to 48 inches. 



^ Bu-tor'i-des vi-res'oens. Average length, about 18 inches. 



