THE BIRD BOOK 
194b. Ward’s Heron. Arden herodias wardi. 
This sub-species is a resident in Florida. It is 
a lighter variety than the common. It nests to- 
gether with the Great Blue Heron and its habits 
are the same. 
196. Egret. Herodias egretta. 
Range. — Resident in the southern portions of 
the United States, straggling northward casually 
to the northern parts. 
This is one of the beautiful Herons which have 
been sought by plume hunters till they are upon 
the verge of extermination. They are entirely 
white, with a long train of beautiful straight 
“aigrettes” flowing from the middle of the back. 
In remote localities, quite large colonies of them 
may still be found, but where they numbered 
thousands, years ago, they can be counted by 
dozens now. They breed in impenetrable swamps, 
very often in company with the following spe- 
cies, and also with Louisiana and Little Blue 
Herons, and White Ibises. Their nests are but 
frail platforms, generally in bushes over the 
water. Their usual complement of eggs numbers 
from three to five, four as the most common num- 
ber. They are generally laid during the latter 
part of May, but often on account of their being 
disturbed, nests with eggs may be found in July. 
The eggs are a light bluish green in color. Size 
2.25 x 1.45. Data. — Gainesville, Florida, April 14, 1894. Four eggs on a plat- 
form of sticks and grass, in a buttonwood bush over six feet of water. Collec- 
tor, George Graham. 
Snowy Egret 
Egret 
[195.] European Heron. Ardea einerea. 
This species is only an accidental straggler in 
Greenland. It is very similar to our Blue Heron 
and is the one which was formerly used to fur- 
nish sport for the royalty when falconry was at 
its height. 
197- Snowy Egret. Egretta candidissima candidissima. 
Range. — Common now only in restricted lo- 
calities in the Gulf States and Mexico. 
This species, which is smaller than the last, 
being but twenty-four inches in length, is also 
adorned with “aigrettes,” but they are beauti- 
fully recurved at the tips. Owing to the merci- 
less slaughter to which they have been sub- 
jected, their ranks have been woefully decimat- 
ed, and it is to be hoped that the remaining 
ones may be safely protected. Their nesting 
habits are the same as the last, although, of 
course, the eggs are smaller. Size 1.80 x 1.25. 
Light greenish blue 
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