LOUISIANA HERON. 157 



impression on the sand, and with its keen eye it views every object around 

 with the most perfect accuracy. See, it has spied a small fly lurking on a 

 blade of grass, it silently runs a few steps, and with the sharp point of its 

 bill it has already secured the prey. The minnow just escaped from the 

 pursuit of some larger fish has almost rushed upon the beach for safety; but 

 the quick eye of the Heron has observed its motions, and in an instant it is 

 swallowed alive. Among the herbage yet dripping with dew the beautiful 

 bird picks its steps. Not a snail can escape its keen search, and as it moves 

 around the muddy pool, it secures each water lizard that occurs. Now the 

 sun's rays have dried up the dews, the flowers begin to droop, the woodland 

 choristers have ended their morning concert, and like them, the Heron, 

 fatigued with its exertions, seeks a place of repose under the boughs of the 

 nearest bush, where it may in safety await the coolness of the evening. 

 Then for a short while it again searches for food. Little difficulty does it 

 experience in this; and at length, with the last glimpse of day, it opens its 

 wings, and flies off towards its well-known roosting-place, where it spends 

 the night contented and happy. 



This species, which is a constant resident in the southern parts of the 

 peninsula of the Floridas, seldom rambles far from its haunts during the 

 winter season, being rarely seen at that period beyond Savannah in Georgia 

 to the eastward. To the west it extends to the broad sedgy flats bordering 

 the mouths of the Mississippi, along the whole Gulf of Mexico, and perhaps 

 much farther south. In the beginning of spring, it is found abundantly in 

 the Carolinas, and sometimes as far east as Maryland, or up the Mississippi 

 as high as Natchez. You never find it far inland: perhaps forty miles would 

 be a considerable distance at any time of the year. It is at all seasons a 

 social bird, moving about in company with the Blue Heron or the White 

 Egret. It also frequently associates with the larger species, and breeds in 

 the same places, along with the White Heron, the Yellow-crowned Heron, 

 and the Night Heron; but more generally it resorts to particular spots for 

 this purpose, keeping by itself, and assembling in great numbers. Those 

 which visit the Carolinas, or the country of the Mississippi, make their 

 appearance there about the first of April, or when the Egrets and other 

 species of Heron seek the same parts, returning to the Floridas or farther 

 south about the middle of September, although I have known some to 

 remain there during mild winters. When this is the case, all the other 

 species may be met with in the same places, as the Louisiana Heron is the 

 most delicate in constitution of all. Whilst at St. Augustine in Florida, in 

 the month of January, I found this species extremely abundant there; but 

 after a hard frost of a few days, they all disappeared, leaving the other 

 Herons, none of which seemed to be affected by the cold, and returned 



