The Snowy Egret 



Distribution in California. — Of rare and irregular occurrence, chiefly in the 

 Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley, where also it has been seen in winter as far north as 

 Stockton (Belding). Occurs coastally during migrations (Santa Barbara, May 2-4, 

 1912; May 1-5, 1913; Apr. 28, 1914). One breeding record (4 nests), Los Banos, May 

 27, 1914. 



Authorities. — Baird {Garzetta candidissima), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. ix., 

 1858, p. 665 (Sacramento Valley; Ft. Tejon); J". Mailliard, Condor, vol. xiii., 1911, 

 p. 50 (Sacramento, June, 1880, one spec); Cooke, U. S. Dept. Agric, Biol. Surv. Bull., 

 no. 45, 1913, p. 45, map (distr. and migr.); Dawson, Condor, vol. xvii., 1915, p. 97 

 (Dos Palos, Merced Co.; desc. nest, eggs, and habits). 



THE STRENUOUS campaign of education which culminated in the 

 summer of 1913 in the passage of the McLean Bill, forbidding the trans- 

 portation into the United States of the plumage of any wild bird for 

 millinery or other non-scientific purpose, has fortunately relieved us of 

 the necessity of reviewing in detail the cruel history of the near extirpa- 

 tion of the most innocent and beautiful of all the denizens of swampy 

 wildernesses. What has been accomplished can never be undone; for 

 the enlightened sentiment of America will never again submit to the 

 ruthless dictation of the feather merchants of lower Broadway. True, 



Taken in Merced County 



NEST AND EGGS OF SNOWY HERON 



Photo by the Author 



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