SPECIES 3. ARBEJi HERODMS. 
GREAT HERON. 
[Plate LXV.— Fig. 2.] 
Le Heron hupe de Virginie, Buiss. v, p. 41 6. 1 0. — Lc. Grand Heron 
d'Amerique, Buff, vii, p. 385. — Larger crested Heron, Catesf. 
App.pl. \0,fig. 1. — liATH. Sijn. iii,p. 85. — Arcf. Zool. M). 341. 
— Pealk’s Museum, Mo. 3629. 
The history of this large and elegant bird having been long 
involved in error and obscurity,* I have taken more than com- 
mon pains to present a faithful portrait of it in this place; and 
to add to that every fact and authentic particular relative to its 
manners which may be necessary to the elucidation of the sub- 
ject. 
The Great Heron is a constant inhabitant of the Atlantic 
coast from New York to Florida; in deep snows and severe wea- 
ther seeking the open springs of the cedar and cypress swamps, 
and the muddy inlets occasionally covered by the tides. On 
the higher inland parts of the country, beyond the mountains, 
they are less numerous; and one which was shot in the upper 
parts of New Hampshire, was described to me as a great curio- 
sity. Many of their breeding places occur in both Carolinas, 
chiefly in the vicinity of the sea. In the lower parts of New 
Jersey they have also their favourite places for building, and 
rearing their young. These are generally in the gloomy soli- 
* Latham says of this species, that “ all the upper parts of the body, the belly, 
tail and legs are brown;” and this description has been repeated by every subse- 
quent compiler. Buffon, with his usual eloquent absurdity, describes the He- 
ron as “ exhibiting the picture of wretchedness, anxiety and indigence; condemn- 
ed to struggle perpetually with misery and want; sickened with the restless crav- 
ings of a famished appetite;” a description so ridiculously untrue, that, were it 
possible for these birds to comprehend it, would excite the risibility of the 
whole tribe. 
VOL. III. — I 
