472 THE SNOWY HERON. 



single plume-hunter has killed hundreds of Egrets in a day; and in the 

 palmy days of the "industry" certain gangs were able to kill tens of thou- 

 sands in a single season. 



Much has been done to arouse a healthy public sentiment upon this 

 question, but the apathy which still remains is appalling. Only last spring 

 (1903) the traffic in "aigrettes" was one of the marked features of the 

 millinery business. Of course the market is no longer supplied from the 

 United States — our birds are gone — but what matter ? There are still 

 enough left in Central and South America to last about six years. And 

 then? "Why, then," says Dame Fashion, quite- cheerfully, "we will covet 

 something else." 



Dr. Wheaton says of this species : "Rather common visitor in July, 

 August, and September. Perhaps breeds in western Ohio, but I have no 

 record of its occurrence in spring or in the breeding season, nor seen any 

 except young birds. Dr. Coues, in connection with this bird,-^ observes 'that 

 a certain northward migration of some southerly birds at this season (sum- 

 mer) is nowhere more noticeable than among the Herons and their allies, 

 the migrants consisting chiefly of birds hatched that year, which unaccount- 

 ably stray in the wrong direction.' " 



There is little to add to this brief record, except to say that the bird 

 is now very rare in Ohio. The only recent occasion of its occurrence with 

 us, so far as I have been able to learn, is that reported by Mr. D. C. Stone 

 of Cincinnati. Mr. Stone observed a single bird which visited a sandbar 

 near the mouth of the Little Miami River, daily, for a week, during the 

 month of August, 1902. 



No. 212. 



SNOWY HERON. 



A. O. U. No. 197. Egretta candidissima (Gmel.). 



Synonym.— LiTTi^B White Egret. 



Description.— Adult in breeding plumage : Entire plumage pure white ; 

 a bunch of forty or fifty "aigrettes" originates on middle of back and reaches to 

 or beyond tail ; character of plumes as in preceding species, but delicately recurved 

 toward tip; a lengthened occipital crest of decomposed feathers; feathers on side 

 of neck below somewhat similar to those on back, not recurved; lores, eyes, and 

 toes yellow; bill black, yellow at base; legs mainly black. Adult after breeding 

 season and immature : Without dorsal plumes. Length 20.00-27.00 (508.-685.8) ; 

 wing 9.75 (247.6) ; bill 2.00-3.50 (50.8-88.9) ; tarsus 4.15 (105.4). 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; pure white -plumage ; nuptial train not so 



1 "Birds of the Northwest, p. 521." 



