34 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



magnificent and imposing bird in appearance. When 

 in full plumage, from the back of the head there run 

 two long black plumes, and these, together with 

 shorter ones, form a crest which the bird raises when 

 excited or alarmed. The bill is long, and sharply 

 pointed, and with it the Heron can deal a terrible 

 thrust. It is semi-nocturnal in habits, and, like all 

 other Herons, procures its food by wading in shallow 

 water and quickly darting out the long neck, seizing 

 its prey with the sharp bill. It is shy and wary, and 

 very difficult to approach. When disturbed, it rises 

 heavily in the air, flapping its broad wings slowly, and 

 uttering harsh guttural croaks. The Great Blue 

 Heron chooses widely varying sites for its nest, but 

 in Florida usually builds in the top of tall pine trees, 

 some distance from the water. 



The Great White Heron, rivalling, or even exceed- 

 ing in size the Great Blue, is now comparatively rare 

 in its former haunts. The plumage of this bird is 

 entirely white. The feathers of all the Herons are 

 loose on the body, and powder-down feathers are al- 

 ways present. It is thought by some naturalists that 

 the powder from them makes the feathers of the bird 

 waterproof. 



The Little Green Heron is the smallest of the 

 American species, as well as the commonest. It is 

 popularly called the Shitepoke. The general effect 

 of colouration is not green, as one would think from 

 the name, the neck and head being a delicate brownish 

 hue, while the rest of the plumage is exquisitely 

 coloured in delicate shades of grey and green. The 

 Little Green Heron is more solitary in habits than 



