SSERONS. 25 



a few days old. The calls of the young sounded Hke the chattering 

 of a flock of blackbirds. 



The food of this heron consists chiefly of fish, with the addition of 

 frogs, lizards, snakes, meadow mice, young rats, crustaceans, small 

 birds, especially the smaller marsh-inhabiting species, and insects, 

 particularly grasshoppers and aquatic beetles. 



American Egret. Herodias egretta. 



The large white egret, formerly an abundant breeding species in 

 the swamps of Ark-ansas and other States in the Mississippi Valley, 

 has been almost exterminated through the milliners' demand for 

 its plumes. Twenty years ago a large colony of these birds nested 

 in the "Peck Cypress" near Armorel. In May, 1910, in the Walker 

 Lake rookery in the same county, I saw only three or four pairs, 

 and in June of the same year Mr. B. Widmann found 3 nests there 

 and saw only 3 adult birds. One of the nests contained 1 egg, 

 another 3 nearly fledged young, and on the third an adult bird was 

 sitting. Extensive shooting of this species for its plumes has ceased 

 because there are not enough birds left to make the business profitable. 

 But to assure the safety of the remnant will necessitate the strict 

 enforcement of the law protecting all nongame birds. 



Snowy Egret. Egretta candidissima. 



Like the other white herons, this exquisite little egret, although 

 once abundant, has been practically exterminated by persistent 

 hunting for its plumes. It formerly nested in the Mississippi 

 VaUey States as far north as southern Illinois, but in recent years 

 has been driven out from all but the more inaccessible parts of 

 Louisiana. In 1886 it was reported as arriving at Osceola April 3, 

 and in 1 889 a few were seen at Clinton July 4. In June and July, 

 1902, Oberholser saw a few along Red River north of Texarkana. 



[Louisiana Heron. Hydranaasa tricolor ruficollis. 



This is a southern species, breeding along the Gulf coast and north to North Caro- 

 lina. It has been recorded from Indiana and Missouri, but there is no definite record 

 of its occurrence in Arkansas. Oberholser reported the species common along Red 

 River north of Texarkana (Tex.) in June and July, 1902.] 



Little Blue Heron. Florida exrulea. 



Since this species is not a plame producer, it has held its own 

 better than the egrets and is still common in the swamps of south- 

 eastern Arkansas. It formerly bred as far north as Missouri and 

 southern Indiana, but now probably does not occur in the nesting 

 season north of southern Arkansas. At Wilmot the last week in 

 June it was very common and doubtless breeds in the big swamps 

 in that vicinity. It formerly nested in a large cypress swamp near 

 Cjrpress, Ashley County, but the colony deserted that location some 



