474 White Egrets at Trenton, New Jersey. [ August, 
the green heron (Butorides virescens), and the least bittern (Ar- 
dea exilis). 
August 17th a small flock of white egrets ( Herodias egretta) 
made their appearance, and associated familiarly with the white 
herons that had preceded them by three days. A tract of level 
meadows, of some seventy acres in extent, seemed particularly 
attractive to these birds, and I had excellent opportunities for 
watching their habits during their brief stay. 
It is proper here to state that thirty years ago both of these 
species of white herons were quite common along the Delaware 
River from May to September, but they have now almost entirely 
disappeared, especially during the past six years, during which | 
time I have failed to note their presence, except single specimens 
flying over. 
My studies of the habits of birds during the past and preced- 
ing summers have frequently suggested to me that when any 
bird or flock of birds deliberately chose to frequent a very 
limited locality for a comparatively long time, notwithstanding 
the danger of the presence of man, their habits would indi- 
eate exercise of faculties that could not be considered simply 
instinctive; that the exercise of unusual care, forethought, and 
deliberation would be noticeable in their endeavors to avoid real 
or supposed dangers from the proximity of man. To what ex- 
tent this is true is, I think, partly shown in the notes I have 
taken down in the field from August 14th to September 9th 
inclusive. How these movements should be interpreted the reader 
must judge for himself, but I think the explanation here given 
nearest in accordance with the facts, which I regret being un- 
able to describe as clearly as I wish. Valuable as they undoubt- 
edly are, written descriptions give but a faint idea of the vari 
movements and daily habits of our birds, which to be really ap- 
preciated must be seen. — 
It is very evident that these white egrets know that their 
color renders them quite conspicuous. I noticed every day the 
same movements on their part, which demonstrated their py 
ciation of this fact. They carefully kept in the centre of jea 
tract of meadow, except when feeding, and then never e 
nearer than one hundred yards to the wooded margins of a 
meadow or near outstanding trees. This shyness, as it would 
called, was not of itself at all remarkable, but as it was satis 
panied with another habit having direct relation to it, 1t "e 
very curious, and indicative of thought. This second habit wa 
