THE GEEAT WHITE HERON. 
115 
Egan told me that incubation continues about thirty days, that both birds 
sit, (the female, however, being most assiduous,) and with their legs stretched 
out before them, in the same manner as the young when two or three weeks 
old. The latter, of which I saw several from ten days to a month old, were 
pure white, slightly tinged with cream colour, and had no indications of a 
crest. Those which I carried to Charleston, and which were kept for more 
than a year, exhibited nothing of the kind. I am unable to say how long 
it is before they attain their full plumage as represented in the plate, when, 
as you see, the head is broadly but loosely and shortly tufted, the feathers 
of the breast pendent, but not remarkably long, and there are none of the 
narrow feathers seen in other species over the rump or wings. 
These Herons are sedate, quiet, and perhaps even less animated than the 
A. Herodias. They walk majestically, with firmness and great elegance. 
Unlike the species just named, they flock at their feeding grounds, sometimes 
a hundred or more being seen together ; and what is still more remarkable 
is, that they betake themselves to the mud-flats or sandbars at a distance 
from the keys on which they roost and breed. They seem, in so far as I 
could judge, to be diurnal, an opinion corroborated by the testimony of Mr. 
Egan, a person of great judgment, sagacity, and integrity. While on these 
banks, they stand motionless, rarely moving towards their prey, but waiting 
until it comes near, when they strike it and swallow it alive, or when large 
beat it on the water, or shake it violently, biting it severely all the while. 
They never leave their feeding grounds until driven off by the tide, 
remaining until the water reaches their body. So wary are they, that 
although they may return to roost on the same keys, they rarely alight on 
trees to which they have resorted before, and if repeatedly disturbed they 
do not return, for many weeks at least. When roosting, they generally 
stand on one foot, the other being drawn up, and, unlike the Ibises, are 
never seen lying flat on trees, where, however, they draw in their long neck, 
and place their head under their wing. 
. I was often surprised to see that while a flock was resting by day in the 
position just described, one or more stood with outstretched necks, keenly 
eyeing all around, now and then suddenly starting at the sight of a Porpoise 
or Shark in chase of some fish. The appearance of a man or a boat, seemed 
to distract them ; and yet I was told that nobody ever goes in pursuit of 
them. If surprised, they leave their perch with a rough croaking sound, 
and fly directly to a great distance, but never inland. 
The flight of the Great White Heron is firm, regular, and greatly 
• protracted. They propel themselves by regular slow flaps, the head being 
drawn in after they have proceeded a few yards, and their legs extended 
behind, as is the case with all other Herons. They also now and then rise 
