106 GREEN HERON. 



the powerful impulse of migration urges them from one portion of the 

 country to another. But although on their northward journey, the Green 

 Herons travel in flocks, it is a curious fact, that, unlike our smaller Waders, 

 Ducks, Geese, and Cranes, they usually return southward at the approach of 

 winter singly or in very small flocks. 



Stagnant pools or bayous, and the margins of the most limpid streams, are 

 alike resorted to by this species for the purpose of procuring food. It is little 

 alarmed by the presence of man, and you may often see it close to houses 

 on the mill-dams, or even raising its brood on the trees of gardens. This is 

 often the case in the suburbs of Charleston in South Carolina, where I have 

 seen several nests on the same live oak in the grounds of the Honourable 

 Joel R. Poinsett, as well as in those of other cities of the Southern States. 

 The gentleness, or as many would say, the stupidity of this bird is truly 

 remarkable, for it will at times allow you to approach within a few paces, 

 looking as unconcernedly upon you as the House Sparrow is wont to do in 

 the streets of London. 



Although they not unfrequently breed in single pairs, they also associate, 

 not only forming communities of their own kind, but mingling with the 

 larger species of their tribe, and with the Boat-tailed Grakles, and other 

 birds. On the 23d May, 1831, I found two nests of the Green Heron on 

 one of the Florida Keys, close to some of tardea rufe.sce.ns and */2. ccerulea. 

 Now and then a dozen or more of their nests are found on a bunch of vines 

 in the middle of a pond, and placed within two or three feet of the water; 

 while in other cases, they place their tenements on the highest branches of 

 tall cypresses. In our Middle Districts, however, and especially at some 

 distance from the sea, it is very seldom that more than a single nest is seen 

 in one locality. 



The nest of the Green Heron, like that of almost every other species of 

 the tribe, is flat and composed of sticks, loosely arranged, among which are 

 sometimes green twigs with their leaves still attached. The eggs are three 

 or four, seldom more, an inch and three-eighths in length, an inch and one- 

 eighth in breadth, nearly equally rounded at both ends, and of a delicate sea- 

 green colour. According to the locality, they are deposited from the middle 

 of March to the beginning of June. In the Southern States, two broods are 

 frequently reared, but in the Middle and Northern Districts, seldom more 

 than one. 



The young, which are at first of a deep livid colour, sparingly covered 

 here and there, and more especially about the head, with longish tufts of 

 soft hair-like down, of a brownish colour, remain in the nest until nearly 

 able to fly; but if disturbed, at once leave their couch, and scramble along 



