470 



THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 



Whenever the old bii^ds were about, 

 the young kept up a loud cackling not 

 unlike that of Guinea hens, but less 

 shrill and of immensely greater volume. 

 The parents, too, made an astonishing 

 amount of noise, roaring at times like 

 caged lions. One in particular which 

 was greatly incensed by the visit of an 

 over-curious neighbor bellowed till the 

 earth shook. 



Similar cacklings and bellowings 

 led me to another tree a hundred yards 

 away. This tree was quite destitute of 

 foliage, but held at a height of a hun- 

 dred feet two nests, which might have 

 been there for many years, so securely 

 lodged were they, and sO' venerable to 

 appearance. At a signal from an old 

 bird, the young ones, which were stand- 

 ing at full height in these nests, instant- 

 ly froze to stone. After this, they sank 

 clown by a movement as insensible as 

 that of the hands of a clock, but after 

 ten minutes they had vanished to sight 

 from below. 



Another nest in the same wood 

 was in a live oak at a height of not 

 less than 120 feet. How many more 

 there might have been I do not know, 

 for the moscjuitO' question was begin- 

 ning to assume a serious aspect. It 

 would be of interest to collect all pos- 

 sible information concerning local her- 

 onries and to collate the facts, as Hart- 

 ing did in Great Britain some thirty 

 years ago. Wherever found the Great Blue Heron should be rigidly pro- 

 tected, not merely because it adds mice and large insects to its humble bill 

 of fare, but because of its picturesque interest. 



Taken in Franklin County. 



Photo by the Author. 



NESTS OF GREAT BI,UE HERON AT 

 HEIGHT OF ONE HUNDRED FEET. 



ONLY THE TOP O^ THE NESTING TREE IS SHOWN. 



