The American Egret 



forty yards. The birds themselves were exceedingly wary, standing about 

 in the offing like anxious sentinels, and scarcely venturing within rifle 

 range, let alone camera range. 



No one claims that this "blue crane" is really game, but the fact 

 remains that thoughtless people with guns, not sportsmen, of course, seem 

 to find his towering bulk irresistible, and have succeeded for the most 

 part in driving his not unfriendly presence beyond the limits of rifle 

 range. Why cannot some inventor of aeroplanes bring out an automatic 

 soaring target, as big as a barn door, stuffed with tin cans, chicken feathers 

 and a bottle of red ink, which when hit with a bullet would fall to earth 

 with a crash like the walls of Jericho, and so satisfy at trifling cost this 

 peculiar lust of lead-throwing? The stateliness of the Heron is too vital 

 a part of our western landscape to be so wantonly sacrificed. 



W. Lee Chambers records 1 the disappearance at Santa Monica of 

 a colony which in 1895 numbered 35 pairs, and in 1901 was reduced to 

 one. Even "scientific collectors" would do well to spare this bird hence- 

 forth. A recent review, based on the consideration of 221 specimens, 

 suggests the possibility of there being three subspecies in California. No 

 doubt "more adequate material," say ten times greater, would settle that 

 point, and also — the Heron. 



No. 383 



American Egret 



A. 0. U. No. 196. Casmerodias egretta (Gmelin). 



Synonyms. — White Egret. Great White Egret. California White 

 Egret. Western Egret. White Heron. California White Heron. "White 

 Crane." 



Description. — Adult in breeding plumage: Entire plumage pure white: from the 

 interscapular region originates a train of from forty to fifty elongated feathers, "aigrettes," 

 with enlarged and stiffened shafts, and decomposed filamentous webs, which reach 

 from eight to twelve inches beyond the tail; lores orange. Bill yellow with black tip; 

 legs and feet black. Adults after the breeding season and immature: Without elongated 

 plumes on the back. Length, including dorsal plumes: 914.4-1066.8 (36.00-42.00). 

 Average of 5 Los Banos specimens: Length (not including plumes) 669 (26.34); wing 

 388 (15.27); bill 115 (4.53); tarsus 158.8 (6.22). 



Recognition Marks. — Eagle size; pure white plumage with elongated propor- 

 tions distinctive; bill yellow, as distinguished from Egretta thula thula, much larger. 



Nesting. — Nest: A platform of sticks in bushes or trees near or over water. 

 Eggs: 3 or 4, rarely 5; light bluish green (glaucous green to deep lichen-green). Av. 

 size 57.15 x 38.1 (2.25 x 1.50). Season: April. 



1 Condor, Vol. IV., March, 1902, p. 47. 

 1896 



