134 ARDEIDjE. 



verdure of a meadow, or a dark lake or pond. Its larger 

 size distinguishes it at once from all the other herons, for 

 which reason it is placed at the head of the list of its family. 

 The present species is not so shy as the common heron, 

 although the bird may be said to be on its guard and diffi- 

 cult enough to shoot, since it rises on the wing if any one 

 approaches nearer than a hundred or a hundred and fifty 

 yards. 



The Great White Heron is rather sociable among its 

 own species, and naturally frequents the same bogs and 

 waters where other herons are also looking for food ; but, 

 beyond that, it never flies in their company, nor notices or 

 cares for them any further. 



The only call-note or noise uttered to our knowledge by 

 the present species, is a syllable not very loud, sounding 

 like rah ! 



In Sclavonia the young of the Great White Heron are 

 brought up among other birds in the poultry-yard, and 

 become as domesticated as the common heron and the 

 stork; they live for many years, and are very ornamental 

 and cleanly birds. 



The food of the Great White Heron consists, for the 

 most part, in fish, frogs, and water insects ; also worms, 

 small reptiles, young fowls, and other small birds. 



During the breeding time, the nests of the Great White 

 Herons are built in trees, like those of the common herons of 

 our country, and in numbers, like rooks', in one and the same 

 tree. The nest is composed of dry sticks, heightened by dry 

 stalks of reeds and rushes, and lined with leaves of divers 

 descriptions : in it the female deposits her three or four 

 eggs, as figured in our Plate. During the time of incubation 

 the male carries food to its mate until she has finished her 

 task, and the young are fed by both parents as long as 

 such care is requisite. 



