NATURAL HISTORY. 197 



tions to aquatic fowl, of which they are not slow 

 to avail themselves. The shallowness of the water, 

 which often does not exceed eight or ten inches in 

 depth, the abundance of marine animals that inhabit 

 the mud, and the facilities for roosting presented 

 by the arching roots and spreading branches every- 

 where around, enable these birds to pass their short 

 sojourn here in security. Among the autumnal 

 and winter visitants may be seen the Virginian rail 

 (Ralliis Virginianus), slowly running over the vaulted 

 roots, or hurrying through the shallow water from 

 the shelter of one clump to another, or wading about, 

 picking up the small crabs on which it habitually 

 feeds. Many of the little gambets and sandpipers 

 {Tringa and Totani) also run about here ; and, 

 occasionally, that very curious bird, the hooded 

 merganser (Mergiis cucuUatus), and many of the 

 Ardeada, from the American bittern and the elegant 

 ^rets, to the great blue heron (^Ardea Herodeus), 

 and the great American white egret (^Ardea egreita), 

 with its sweeping plumes of snowy whiteness, are 

 commonly to be found here. One of these, the 

 black-crowned night heron, or Qua bird {Ardea 

 nycticorax), is pecuHarly characteristic of these 

 sombre solitudes; for though its jealous wariness 

 precludes it from being' often seen, its hoarse voice, 



13—2 



