THE GREAT BLUE HERON. 
129 
oftener than once a day, as if their parents were intent on teaching them 
that abstinence without which it would often be difficult for them to sub- 
sist in their after life. At the age of six or seven weeks they fly off, and 
at once go in search of food, each by itself. 
In the following spring, at which time they have grown much, the elon- 
gated feathers of the breast and shoulders are seen, the males show the 
commencement of the pendant crest, and the top of the head lias become 
white. None breed at this age, so far as I have been able to observe. 
The second spring, they have a handsome appearance, the upper parts have 
become light, the black and white marks are much purer, and some have 
the crest three or four inches in length. Some breed at this age. The 
third spring, the Great Blue Heron is as represented in the plate. 
The males are somewhat larger than the females, but there is very little 
difference between the sexes in external appearance. This species moults in 
the Southern States about the beginning of May, or as soon as the young- 
are hatched, and one month after the pendent crest is dropped, and much of 
the beauty of the bird is gone for the season. The weight of a full grown 
Heron of this kind, when it is in good condition, is about eight pounds ; but 
this varies very much according to circumstances, and I have found some 
having all the appearance of old birds that did not exceed six pounds. The 
stomach consists of a long bag, thinly covered by a muscular coat, and is 
capable of containing several fishes at a time. The intestine is not thicker 
than the quill of a Swan, and measures from eight and a half to nine feet 
in length. 
Great Heron, Ardea Ilerodias , Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. vii. p. 106. 
Ardea Herodias, Bonap. Syn., p. 304. 
Great Heron, Ardea Herodias , Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 42. 
Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias , Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 87 ; vol. v. p. 599. 
Male, 48, 72. 
Resident from Texas to South Carolina. In spring migrates over the 
United States, and along the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of St. Lawrence 
Breeds everywhere. Retires southward in autumn. Common. 
Adult Male in spring. 
Bill much longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point, 
the mandibles nearly equal ; upper mandible with the doi’sal line nearly 
straight, the ridge broadly convex at the base, narrowed towards the end, a 
groove from the base to near the tip, beneath which the sides are convex, 
the edges extremely thin and sharp, towards the end broken into irregular 
serratures, the tip acute. Lower mandible with the angle extremely narrow 
and elongated, the dorsal line beyond it ascending, and slightly curved, the 
Yol. YI. 18 
