138 ARDEID.E. 



very helpless, and is obliged to skim low over the bushes and 

 reeds, on its passage from one piece of water to another. But 

 when the weather is fine, this bird may be seen, if startled up 

 by intrusion of any kind, circling up high in the air, as if sur- 

 veying the neighbourhood before it finally decides upon its 

 course. 



The present species may very easily be kept in the poultry- 

 yard, provided a young individual is chosen for that purpose. 

 When thus domesticated it is observed that the actions of 

 this little species are very elegant and its manners amiable. 

 When compared with the common heron or the stork, the 

 graceful movements of this beautiful and slender creature 

 are very remarkable. In captivity, however, it never be- 

 comes very tame or confiding, but it is gentle and free from 

 malice. 



The food of this little heron consists of fish and aquatic 

 reptiles, such as frogs and their spawn, water-insects and their 

 larvse, worms, &c. The manner in which it obtains its food 

 is by walking stealthily along the shore in a stooping attitude, 

 with its head drawn back : as soon as it perceives a desirable 

 object, the Egret darts its pointed bill like lightning upon it, 

 and seldom fails to obtain its prey. 



In the spring of the year the Egret builds its nest on the 

 crown of a willow stump, or the sweeping bough of a spread- 

 ing tree, or on the ground : its elevation above the ground, 

 when in a tree, rarely exceeds six or seven feet, thereby never 

 interfering with the nests of other herons. The fabric is con- 

 structed in the same manner as that of others of its tribe ; the 

 materials of which it consists are a layer of sticks, or stalks of 

 rushes, the inner side of the leaves of flags, reeds, and grass, 

 &c. The eggs are generally four or five in number, and in 

 size not exceeding those of the common teal, of a pale bluish- 

 green colour, as represented in our Plate. 



The entire length of the Little Egret is twenty-two or 



