HERONS 



(200) Florida cserulea 



(Linn.) fLat., Uue). 



LITTLK BLUE HERON. Ad. 

 — Plumage as shown. Feathers of 

 back much lengthened and pointed, 

 reaching beyond the ends of the 

 folded wings; breast feathers also 

 lengthened and plumes from the back 

 of the head. Im. — Pure white all 

 o\'er, but always with traces of bluish 

 somewhere, usually on the primaries. 

 Legs and feet greenish-black, these 

 always distinguishing it from the 

 young or winter Snowy Egret, 

 which has yellowish feet. L., 22.00; 

 W., 10.25; Tar., 3.70; B., 3.00. 



Range — Breeds from S. Car. and 

 the Gulf States southward; formerly 

 bred north to 111. Wanders cas- 

 ually to N. S. and Wis. 



as White Ibises are known to the natives. We may even 

 see a vision of pink as a Roseate SpoonbUl, or " Pink Curlew, '' 

 retreats into the distance. A few steps more and two or 

 three great egrets are startled from their nests a hundred 

 yards away — "Long Whites," the guide whispers in our 

 ear. Snowy Egrets are less wary than the larger ones. 

 The nests of the Louisiana and Little Blue Herons and 

 those of Snowy Egrets are practically the same, and all three 

 may be in the same tree. The eggs also are so nearly alike 

 that only an expert can distinguish them, and even he not 

 always with certainty. Young Little Blue Herons are 

 clothed in white, on which account they are very often 

 mistaken for the rare egrets; their plumage shows some 

 traces of bluish, even in the first year, chiefly on the tips of 

 the wings and the top of the head; the second year they are 

 often quite mottled, and it is not until they have lived for 

 three years that their adult plumage is attained. Snowy 

 Egrets and Louisiana Herons are not great wanderers, but 



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