PURPLE HERON. 147 



brought up from the nest this species does very well in con- 

 finement, although its pointed bill is very dangerous to the 

 eyes of its companions. 



The food of the Purple Heron is much the same as that 

 on which the common heron subsists, namely, fish, and rep- 

 tiles, and water-insects ; the number of small fishes found in 

 its stomach is frequently half a hundred, consequently the 

 havoc among the finny tribes in a given space must be won- 

 derfully large. The reproduction of the present species is 

 carried on in the same locality where the birds chiefly reside ; 

 and the nest is placed among thick rushes on the ground, 

 among long grass, a few yards distant from the water. Al- 

 though each pair builds separate from others of its species, it 

 is no rare occurrence to find two or three or more nests in a 

 suitable place. The structure itself consists mostly of dried 

 stalks of flags, intermixed with some fine dry twigs, and 

 lined with softer materials, such as grass, straw, wool, or 

 any other convenient substance. The shape of the nest is 

 very flat and broad, and might hold a larger family than it is 

 required to contain. The female deposits her three or four 

 eggs in the nest, and the young are carefully attended by 

 the parents until they are ready to provide for them- 

 selves. 



The entire length of the Purple Heron is nearly three feet 

 from beak to tail. The beak is yellow, with a brown ridge 

 on the top of the upper mandible ; the lore greenish-yellow ; 

 iris orange-yellow. The feathers on the top of the head are 

 black, some reflected with green : a black line runs down the 

 back of the neck, and another from the posterior angle of the 

 mouth down the sides of the neck, for more than half its 

 length ; the front of the neck is streaked with black, white, 

 and purplish-red. The feathers of the lower part of the neck 

 are acuminated and long, of a pale grey, white, and purple 

 colour intermixed; the cheeks and neck are rich reddish-brown, 



