THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 129 



oftener than once a day, as if their parents were intent on teaching them 

 that abstinence without which it would often be difficult for them to subsist 

 in their after life. At the age of six or seven weeks they fly off, and at once 

 go in search of food, each by itself. 



In the following spring, at which time they have grown much, the elon- 

 gated feathers of the breast and shoulders are seen, the males shew the com- 

 mencement of the pendent crest, and the top of the head has become white. 

 None breed at this age, in so far as I have been able to observe. The second 

 spring, they have a handsome appearance, the upper parts have become light, 

 the black and white marks are much purer, and some have the crest three or 

 four inches in length. Some breed at this age. The third spring, the Great 

 Blue Heron is as represented in the plate. 



The males are somewhat larger than the females, but there is very little 

 difference between the sexes in external appearance. This species moults in 

 the Southern States about the beginning of May, or as soon as the young 

 are hatched, and one month after the pendent crest is dropped, and much of 

 the beauty of the bird is gone for the season. The weight of a full grown 

 Heron of this kind, when it is in good condition, is about eight pounds; but 

 this varies very much according to circumstances, and I have found some 

 having all the appearance of old birds that did not exceed six pounds. The 

 stomach consists of a long bag, thinly covered by a muscular coat, and is 

 capable of containing several fishes at a time. The intestine is not thicker 

 than the quill of a Swan, and measures from eight and a half to nine feet in 

 length. 



Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 106. 



Ardea Herodias, Bonap. Syn., p. 304. 



Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 42. 



Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 87; vol. v. p. 599. 



Male, 48, 72. 



Resident from Texas to South Carolina. In spring migrates over the 

 United States, and along the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. 

 Breeds everywhere. Retires southward in autumn. Common. 



Adult Male in spring. 



Bill much longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point, 

 the mandibles nearly equal; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly 

 straight, the ridge broadly convex at the base, narrowed towards the end, a 

 groove from the base to near the tip, beneath which the sides are convex, 

 the edges extremely thin and sharp, towards the end broken into irregular 

 serratures, the tip acute. Lower mandible with the angle extremely narrow 

 and elongated, the dorsal line beyond it ascending, and slightly curved, the 



Vol. VI. 18 



