138 POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDE. 



other birds of the cage, he quarrels with none, but peace- 

 fully goes his way, feeling with the point of his beak along 

 the sandy bottom of the pool for something edible, or stand- 

 ing in quiet meditation on the bank. Notwithstanding its 

 common name, this bird is not an ibis, but a true stork. In 

 its black and white plumage it is quite a handsome bird. 

 Although not so fond of using its wings in captivity as are 

 herons and egrets, the "Wood Ibis is for many reasons a very 

 welcome tenant. 



The White Stork, (Ciconia ciconia), is as large as our 

 wood ibis, which it strongly resembles in form and habits. 

 This bird is literally the household bird of Germany, and its 

 place in the family has now become of more importance 

 than its place in nature. Throughout Holland, Germany, 

 and very nearly the whole of eastern and central Europe, 

 the White Stork is so prized and protected by the people 

 that it has attained a state of semi-domestication. Nesting 

 places are prepared for it, usually near or even upon human 

 habitations, and it enjoys an immunity from molestation 

 quite like that of the adjutant in India. 



The Great Blue Heron, (Ardea herodias), is frequently 

 called the "blue crane"; but the latter name is a misnomer. 

 It properly belongs to our sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) . 

 Just why so large a number of people should be so persis- 

 tent in this error is a psychological problem; but the fact 

 remains that people will not say "heron." 



This Great Blue Heron is the largest and most noteworthy 

 bird of our northern marshes. Thanks to the fact that it 

 bears no desirable "plumes," and its flesh is not edible, it 

 has been permitted to live. When not molested, it becomes 

 quite trustful, and when wading along a shore, fishing for 

 minnows, it affords for the field-glass or the camera a very 

 interesting subject. In summer these birds are quite numer- 

 ous in the marshes along the Shrewsbury River, between 

 Sandy Hook and Long Branch, and they are an unfailing 

 source of interest to excursionists. It is sincerely to be 

 hoped that the evil eye of "Dame Fashion" will not fall 

 upon this bird, and cause its extermination. 



The Great White Heron, (Ardea americana), is taller than 

 the great blue heron, and it is the largest of all the white 

 herons and egrets. Like the whooping crane, it is now a 

 bird of such exceeding rarity that the procuring of a speci- 

 men may be counted a stroke of good fortune. In eight 



