118 BLUE HERON. 



Rouge downwards to New Orleans, these birds are frequently met 

 with. In spring they extend their migrations as far north as New 

 England, chiefly in the vicinity of the sea ; becoming more rare as 

 they advance to the north. On the sea beach of Cape May I found 

 a few of them breeding among the cedars, in company with the 

 Snowy Heron, Night Heron, and Green Bittern. The figure and 

 description of the present was taken from two of these, shot in the 

 month of May, while in complete plumage. Their nests were com- 

 posed of small sticks, built in the tops of the red cedars, and con- 

 tained five eggs of a light blue color, and of somewhat a deeper 

 tint than those of the Night Heron. Little or no difference could 

 be perceived between the colors and markings of the male and fe- 

 male. This remark is applicable to almost the whole genus ; tho 

 from the circumstance of many of the yearling birds differing in 

 plumage, they have been mistaken for females. 



The Blue Heron, tho in the northern states it be found chiefly 

 in the neighbourhood of the ocean, probably on account of the 

 greater temperature of the climate, is yet particularly fond of fresh 

 water bogs, on the edges of the salt marsh. These it often fre- 

 quents, wading about in search of tadpoles, 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 enume- 

 rated 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 nocturnal 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 



