106 
GREEN HERON. 
the powerful impulse of migration urges them from one portion of the 
country to another. But although on their northward journey, the Greer. 
Herons travel in flocks, it is a curious fact, that, unlike our smaller Waders, 
Ducks, Geese, and Cranes, they usually return southward at the approach 
of winter singly or in very small flocks. 
Stagnant pools or bayous, and the margins of the most limpid streams, are 
alike resorted to by this species for the purpose of procui'ing food. It is little 
alarmed by the presence of man, and you may often see it close to houses 
on the mill-dams, or even raising its brood on the trees of gardens. This is 
often the case in the suburbs of Charleston, in South Carolina, where I have 
seen several nests on the same live oak in the grounds of the Honourable 
Joel R. Poinsett, as well as in those of other cities of the Southern States. 
The gentleness, or as many would say, the stupidity of this bird is truly 
remarkable, for it will at times allow you to approach within a few paces, 
looking as unconcernedly upon you as the House Sparrow is wont to do in 
the streets of London. 
Although they not nnfrequently breed in single pairs, they also associate, 
not only forming communities of their own kind, but mingling with the 
larger species of their tribe, and with the Boat-tailed Grakles, and other 
birds. On the 2-3d of May, 1831, 1 found two nests of the Green Heron on 
one of the Florida Keys, close to some of Ardea rufescens and A. ccerulea. 
Now and then a dozen or more of their nests are found on a bunch of vines 
in the middle of a pond, and placed within two or three feet of the water ; 
while in other cases, they place their tenements on the highest branches of 
tall cypresses. In our Middle Districts, however, and especially at some 
distance from the sea, it is very seldom that more than a single nest is seen 
in one locality. 
The nest of the Green Heron, like that of almost every other species of 
the tribe, is flat and composed of sticks, loosely arranged, among which are 
sometimes green twigs with their leaves still attached. The eggs are three 
or four, seldom more, an inch and three-eighths in length, an inch and one- 
eighth in breadth, nearly equally rounded at botlf’ends, and of a delicate sea- 
green colour. According to the locality, they are deposited from the middle 
of March to the beginning of June. In the Southern States, two broods are 
frequently reared, but in the Middle and Northern Districts, seldom more 
than one. 
The young, which are at first ol a deep livid colour, sparingly covered 
here and there, and more especially about the head, with longish tufts of 
soft hair-like down, of a brownish colour, remain in the nest until nearly 
able to fly ; but if disturbed, at once leave their couch, and scramble along 
