264 
The Green Heron 
human neighbors. Green Herons sometimes come to ponds where fish 
are being propagated, and cause the owners annoyance by eating many 
of the young that have been hatched and are being raised with so much 
care. This very naturally causes the fish-breeder to become worried, and 
sometimes he gets his gun and shoots the birds. . From the data which 
have been carefully gathered we now believe that Green Herons, as a 
whole, do comparatively little damage, but that, on the other hand, they 
may render mankind a distinct service. Quite apart from seeking revenge 
from any real injury they may do about fish-ponds, many men shoot 
them whenever they get the opportunity for the mere pleasure of seeing 
whether they can hit them ; and thoughtless and ill-trained boys have been 
known to kill these trusting birds with little rifles, all of which is wrong. ; 
Another influence which has tended to decrease their ! 
Evil of numbers has been the craze among boys for collecting i 
Birds’-nesting , . , , ^ i r i • 
birds eggs, they have taken a peculiar pleasure in ; 
this pursuit ; and so extensively has the practice been carried on that Green p 
H erons, as well as other birds of certain regions, have been largely ^ 
depleted in numbers. Collecting eggs should never be indulged in 
except by persons whose knowledge and real scientific purpose warrant 
the State authorities in granting them a license for the purpose. Even 
then, the collecting should not be carried on to an extent which will be 
appreciably injurious to the well-being of the birds. 
In most of the States in the Union it is now against the law to kill 
Green Herons except under permits granted by the State authorities, 
and all right-minded persons should unite in giving these statutes their 
most hearty support. 
Classification and Distribution 
The Green Heron is classified as belonging to the Order Herodiones, the 
Suborder Herodii, Family Ardeidce, and the Subfamily Ardeince. It is found in , 
suitable localities from Oregon and Ontario southward to the West Indies and I 
Venezuela. Besides the eastern form, to which this leaflet especially refers, two i 
geographical races or subspecies are recognized by ornithologists : viz., Frazar’s 
Green Heron (B. v. frazari), a slightly larger, darker form in Lower California, | 
and Anthony’s Green Heron (B. v. anthonyi), a pale desert-race in northern Cali- 1 
fornia and southward through arid Mexico. i 
This and other Educational Leaflets are for sale, at 6 cents each, by the National Association of 
Audubon Societies, 1974 Broadway, New York City. Lists given on request. 
