ARDEIDA5 — THE HERONS — ARDEA. 
17 
Wlien wounded it defends itself with its bill, and can inflict a dangerous wound. In 
flying, it doubles back the neck between the wings, and allows the legs to stick out 
straight behind. It has been known to collect in flocks of two hundred or more, near 
the Columbia, when the herring were entering the bay in August. It is said to be 
quite eatable when young, if properly cleaned. 
Captain Bendire mentions this species as a very common summer resident through- 
out the lower Harney Valley, in Eastern Oregon. It breeds on one of the small 
islands in Malheur Lake in great numbers, in company with the Double-crested Cor- 
morant and the White Pelican. Its nests were placed on greasewood bushes, from 
two to four feet from the ground, nearly every bush containing a nest. They were 
all flat structures, built of such materials as were close at hand — dry sticks and 
reeds, with a little swamp-grass for a lining. The usual number of eggs was five. 
The measurement of the largest egg was 2.73 x 1.96 ; of the smallest, 2.40 x 1.82 ; 
and the average, 2.65 x 1.80. The first laid eggs in a set were usually of a lighter 
or faded color. The female began to lay about the 20th of April. The young for 
the first two weeks were nearly destitute of feathers, and made a hissing noise when 
disturbed. They sit close together in a circle on their nests, with their heads all 
turned toward its centre. When one of their colonies is disturbed, the old birds at 
once depart, without any manifestation of concern. 
This Heron is also known occasionally to breed on precipitous and rocky sides of 
streams, where other opportunities are not present, making use of projecting ledges 
of rocks instead of trees or bushes. 
Mr. Salvin notes the occurrence of this Heron near the Lake of Duenas, in 
Guatemala ; it was seen fishing on the River Guacalate ; he also met with it fre- 
quenting the lagoons on the Pacific coast of that Pepublic, and mentions its great 
shyness. Professor Newton cites this Heron as occurring in St. Croix in March and 
April, and again in August, 1857. Mr. E. Newton had no doubt that it breeds on the 
island, as it was observed there on the 10th of June. According to Dr. Gundlacli, 
it breeds in Cuba ; and on the authority of Mr. Richard Hill and Mr. March, in 
Jamaica. Mr. Dresser found it common in Tamaulipas, Mexico, all the year, except- 
ing only the two coldest months ; and Dr. Berlandier, in his manuscript notes, 
mentions its occurrence in Eastern Mexico from November to the end of February, 
and as abundant throughout the entire State of Tamaulipas. 
Major Wedderburn gives this species as resident in the Bermudas, many arriving- 
in autumn, and a few remaining throughout the year. In 1846 a nest of this bird 
containing two eggs was found among the mangrove-trees in Hungry Bay, and the 
Rev. H. B. Tristram is said to have kept one alive in his garden, at the parsonage 
on Ireland Island, which was once seen to seize a Ground-dove and swallow it entire. 
Mr. Hardis, however, regards it as entirely migratory in Bermuda ; first seen about 
the 19th of September, continuing to arrive in October, when it becomes common, 
and occasionally met with from that period to April ; it then disappears for the 
summer months. During the violent gale of October, 1848, a number sought refuge 
in the Bermudas, appearing on all parts of the coast, and landing in a state of such 
great exhaustion that five were taken alive. In arriving it was seen to keep close to 
the surface of the water. 
Professor Verrill found this Heron breeding in the interior of Maine, a hundred 
miles or more from the coast ; and Mr. Boardman informs us that it is found in New 
Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as far to the north as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Accord- 
ing to the observations of Mr. Giraud, it is common on all the salt-marshes of Long 
Island, where it confines itself almost entirely to the wet and miry flats in the vicinity 
VOL. i. — 3 
