ARDEIDiE — THE HERON'S — IIERODIAS. 
25 
Lake Michigan and others of the larger lakes. Mr. Salvin found it common in Cen- 
tral America, both on the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. It was much more solitary 
in its habits than the candid issirnci. Mr. G. C. Taylor also met with it at Tigre 
Island, in Honduras, where it was not uncommon. It is an occasional visitant, both 
in the spring and in the fall, to Bermuda. Leotaud speaks of it as a very common 
species in Trinidad, where it was principally found on the banks of the sea, or of 
rivers influenced by the tides. It is said to hunt for fish in the daytime, and also to 
feed on soft mollusks. It reposes on the branches of the mangrove-trees in a state of 
continued immobility. It is found usually singly, or not more than two or three 
together. Although very shy in its wild state, it is readily reconciled to captivity. 
Confined in a courtyard or a garden, it becomes a very attractive ornament. The 
brilliant whiteness of its plumage, the gracefulness of its movements, the elegance of 
its plumes, and the dignity of its carriage, combine to make it very attractive. It will 
watch for a rat or a mouse with complete immobility, when suddenly, and witli a 
surprising rapidity of movement, it seizes its prey. It devours everything it meets 
with, sparing neither insect nor reptile. If another of this species is put in the same 
enclosure, a furious contest is sure to ensue, which not unfrequently ends in the crip- 
pling of one of the combatants. They strike furious blows at each other with their 
beaks, but these are usually warded off. In the struggle they interlace their feet and 
wings, and not unfrequently one of the wings gets broken : this ends the contest. 
The Egret is a resident of Trinidad, breeds there, and never leaves the island. It 
is given by Dr. Gundlach as breeding in Cuba, and by Mr. Gosse and Mr. March as a 
resident in Jamaica; and it is found in other West India Islands. Mr. C. W. Wyatt 
mentions meeting with this species on the Lake of Paturia, in Colombia, S. A. Dr. 
Burmeister records it as found everywhere throughout the La Plata region in South 
America, on the banks of the rivers and among the lagoons, or among the reeds in 
marshy ground from the Banda Oriental as far as the Andes. Specimens were 
taken by Dr. Cunningham (Ibis, 1867) near Port Orclway, in the Straits of Magellan. 
During the summer this species straggles along our entire Atlantic coast, and even 
into the interior. Mr. Boardman informs me that it not only occasionally is taken 
in the neighborhood of Calais, but that individuals have been shot as far up the Bay 
of Funcly as Windsor, Nova Scotia. Several instances are on record of its having 
been taken in Massachusetts. Mr. Allen reports two taken near Hudson by Mr. 
Jillson in 1867 ; these were in immature plumage. Several others were seen at the 
same time. A male in full plumage was taken at Ashland, in May, several years 
since, and another near Lynn by Mr. Vickary. Mr. H. A. Purdie records the capture 
of a fine specimen in Westford in the summer of 1873. In the summer of 1869 an 
example of this species was shot on the Onion or Winooski River, in Vermont. Though 
rare in the interior, it is yet found in suitable localities. Professor Kumlien informs 
me that in the months of August and September it is to be seen every year, fishing 
on the edge of Lake Koskonong, Wisconsin. New Jersey is the most northern point 
on the Atlantic coast where it has been known to breed. On Long Island, according 
to Giraud, it is not a frequent visitor. Occasionally one may be seen, during the 
summer months, on the marshes or meadows, or wading about on the shoals in pursuit 
of small fish, on which it feeds, as well as frogs and lizards. The largest number 
ever in sight at one time is five. These were seen on Coney Island, and were ex- 
tremely shy and vigilant, eluding all attempts to secure them. In Wilson’s time, or 
about 1810, this Heron bred in considerable numbers in the extensive cedar-swamps 
in the lower part of New Jersey, where their nests were built in societies on trees. 
The young made their first appearance in the marshes in August, in parties of twenty 
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