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THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 



-f Ardea Herodias, Linn. 

 PLATE CCCLXIX— Male. 



The State of Louisiana has always been my favourite portion of the Union, 

 although Kentucky and some other States have divided my affections; but 

 as we are on the banks of the fair Ohio, let us pause awhile, good reader, 

 and watch the Heron. In my estimation, few of our waders are more 

 interesting than the birds of this family. Their contours and movements 

 are always graceful, if not elegant. Look on the one that stands near the 

 margin of the pure stream: — see his reflection dipping as it were into the 

 smooth water, the bottom of which it might reach had it not to contend 

 with the numerous boughs of those magnificent trees. How calm, how 

 silent, how grand is the scene! The tread of the tall bird himself no one 

 hears, so carefully does he place his foot on the moist ground, cautiously 

 suspending it for awhile at each step of his progress. Now his golden eye 

 glances over the surrounding objects, in surveying which he takes advantage 

 of the full stretch of his graceful neck. Satisfied that no danger is near, he 

 lays his head on his shoulders, allows the feathers of his breast to droop, and 

 patiently awaits the approach of his finned prey. You might imagine what 

 you see. to be the statue of a bird, so motionless is it. But now, he 

 moves; he has taken a silent step, and with great care he advances; slowly 

 does he raise his head from his shoulders, and now, what a sudden start! his 

 formidable bill has transfixed a perch, which he beats to death on the ground. 

 See with what difficulty he gulps it down his capacious throat! and now his 

 broad wings open, and away he slowly flies to another station, or perhaps to 

 avoid his unwelcome observers. 



The "Blue Crane" (by which name this species is generally known in 

 the United States) is met with in every part of the Union. Although more 

 abundant in the low lands of our Atlantic coast, it is not uncommon in the 

 countries west of the Alleghany Mountains. I have found it in every State 

 in which I have travelled, as well as in all our "Territories." It is well 

 known from Louisiana to Maine, but seldom occurs farther east than Prince 

 Edward's Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and not a Heron of any kind 

 did I see or hear of in Newfoundland or Labrador. Westward, I believe, 

 it reaches to the very bases of the Rocky Mountains. It is a hardy bird, 



