ARDEID2E — THE HERONS — HYDRANASSA. 
41 
and graceful in movements, of its family. Its measured step is so light that it leaves 
no impression on the sand. It feeds on insects, fish, snails, lizards, and the like, 
and nothing escapes its notice, its quick eye instantly detecting any object available 
for food, from a small fly on a blade of grass, to the minnow in the wave. 
It is said to be a constant resident in the southern part of Florida, seldom rambling 
far from its haunts in the winter season, and at that period rarely seen beyond 
Savannah, to the east. To the west, it extends to the broad, sedgy flats that border 
the mouths of the Mississippi, along the whole Gulf of Mexico, and farther south. 
In the spring it is found abundantly in the Carolinas, and even as far east as Mary- 
land, and up the Mississippi River as far as Natchez. It is never found inland 
farther than forty miles from the sea. It is eminently a social bird, and moves about 
in company with the White Egret or the Blue Heron. It frequently associates with 
the larger species, and breeds in the same places with the White Heron, the Night 
Heron, and the Yellow-crowned Heron. More frequently, however, it keeps by 
itself, assembling in immense numbers to breed, and resorting to particular spots for 
that purpose. 
Mr. Audubon states that he found this species extremely abundant in January at 
St. Augustine ; but after a hard frost of a few days all had disappeared, the other 
Herons remaining, apparently unaffected by the cold : it returned again, however, when 
the thermometer rose to 80°, and was in full spring plumage by the end of February. 
Though timid, it is much less shy than most of the other species, and is more easily 
procured ; and on account of its apparent insensibility to danger is called, in Lower 
Louisiana, Egrette folle. 
The flight of this Heron is described as light, rather irregular, swifter than that 
of any other species, and capable of being considerably protracted. It moves in long 
files, widely separated, in an undulating manner, and with constant flappings. When 
proceeding to or from their roosting-places, or when on their migrations, this species 
passes as high over the country as any of the other Herons. On being shot at. it 
seldom flies to a great distance ; and its attachment to a particular place is such, that 
you are sure to find it there during its stay. If one of its number is wounded, it 
sympathizes with its companion, and keeps about in the manner of the Gulls and 
Terns, and a number may in this manner be obtained. 
On the 29th of April, in visiting one of the Florida Keys, Mr. Audubon came 
upon one of the breeding-places of this Heron. The southern exposures of the island 
were overgrown with low trees and bushes, matted together with smilax and other 
vines, intermingled with which were several kinds of cactus. Among the branches 
were several hundred nests of this species, so low and so close that several would be 
within reach at once. The birds made loud and bitter complaints at being disturbed. 
The nests were formed of small dry sticks crossing each other in various ways. 
They were flat, had but little lining, and each nest contained three eggs ; and this 
number Mr. Audubon thinks is never exceeded. He gives as the measurement, a 
length of one inch and six and a half twelfths, and a breadth of an inch and a quar- 
ter. The period of incubation is twenty-one days ; and he expresses the opinion 
that but one brood is raised in a season. The notes of the young bird are extremely 
plaintive, and resemble the syllables wiee-wiee-wiee. When taken by the hand, the 
young bird defends itself to the utmost. Several were caught and kept in confine- 
ment on the vessel ; they fed on any garbage thrown to them by the sailors. Mr. 
Audubon found this species breeding as far to the eastward as Charleston, S. C. 
During the summer and autumn, after the old birds have separated from their young, 
it is frequently seen among the rice-fields feeding along the ditches, and at this sea- 
vol. i. — 6 
