41 6 BLUE CRANE. 



lizards, various larvae of winged insects, and mud worms. 

 It moves actively about in search of these, sometimes making 

 a run at its prey ; and is often seen in company with the 

 snowy heron, figured in the same plate. Like this last, it is 

 also very silent, intent, and watchful. 



The genus Ardea is the most numerous of all the wading 

 tribes, there being no less than ninety-six different species 

 enumerated by late writers. These are again subdivided into 

 particular families, each distinguished by a certain peculiarity. 

 The cranes, by having the head bald ; the storks, with the 

 orbits naked ; and the herons, with the middle claw pectinated. 

 To this last belong the bitterns. Several of these are noctur- 

 nal birds, feeding only as the evening twilight commences, 

 and reposing either among the long grass and reeds, or on 

 tall trees, in sequestered places, during the day. What is 

 very remarkable, these night wanderers often associate, during 

 the breeding season, with the others, building their nests on 

 the branches of the same tree ; and, though differing so little 

 in external form, feeding on nearly the same food, living and 

 lodging in the same place, yet preserve their race, language, 

 and manners, as perfectly distinct from those of their neigh- 

 bours as if each inhabited a separate quarter of the globe. 



The blue heron is twenty-three inches in length, and three 

 feet in extent ; the bill is black, but from the nostril to the 

 eye, in both mandibles, is of a rich light purplish blue ; iris 

 of the eye, gray ; pupil, black, surrounded by a narrow silvery 

 ring; eyelid, light blue; the whole head and greater part of 

 the neck is of a deep purplish brown ; from the crested hind 

 head shoot three narrow pointed feathers that reach nearly 

 six inches beyond the eye ; lower part of the neck, breast, belly, 

 and whole body, a deep slate colour, with lighter reflections ; 

 the back is covered with long, flat, and narrow feathers, 

 some of which are ten inches long, and extend four inches be- 

 yond the tail ; the breast is also ornamented with a number of 

 these long slender feathers; legs, blackish green; inner side of 

 the middle claw pectinated. The breast and sides of the rump, 



