158 
LOUISIANA HERON. 
again as soon as the Fahrenheit thermometer rose to 80°. There they were 
in full livery by the end of February, and near Charleston by the 5th of 
April. 
Although timid, they are less shy than most other species, and more easily 
procured. I have frequently seen one alight at the distance of a few yards, 
and gaze on me as if endeavouring to discover my intentions. This appa- 
rent insensibility to danger has given rise to the appellation of Egrette folle, 
which is given to them in Lower Louisiana. 
The flight of this beautiful Heron is light, rather irregular, swifter than 
that of any other species, and capable of being considerably protracted. 
They usually move in long files, rather widely separated, and in an undu- 
lating manner, with constant flappings. When proceeding towards their 
roosts, or when on their migrations, they pass as high over the country as 
other species ; on the former occasion, they pass and repass over the same 
track, thus enabling the gunner easily to shoot them, which he may especially 
calculate on doing at the approach of night, when they are gorged with 
food, and fly lower than in the morning. They may, however, be still more 
surely obtained on their arriving at their roosting place, where they alight 
at once among the lower branches. On being shot at, they seldom fly to a 
great distance, and their attachment to a particular place is such that you are 
sure to find them there during the whole period of their stay in the country, 
excepting the breeding time. At the cry of a wounded one, they assa': you 
in the manner of some Gulls and Terns, and may be shot in great numbers 
by any person fond of such sport. 
On the 29th of April, while wading around a beautiful key of the Flor-idas, 
in search of certain crustaceous animals called the sea cray-fish, my party 
and I suddenly came upon one of the breeding places of the Louisiana 
Heron. The southern exposures of this lovely island were overgrown 
with low trees and bushes matted together by thousands of smilaxes and 
other creeping plants, supported by various species of cactus. Among the 
branches some hundred pairs of these lovely birds had placed their nests, 
which were so low and so close to each other, that without moving a step 
one could put his hand into several. The birds thus taken by surprise rose 
affrighted into the air, bitterly complaining of being disturbed in their 
secluded retreat. The nests were formed of small dried sticks crossing each 
other in various ways. They were flat, had little lining, and each containing 
three eggs, all the birds being then incubating. Observing that many eggs 
had been destroyed by the Crows and Buzzards, as the shells were scattered 
on the ground, I concluded that many of the Herons had laid more than 
once to make up their full complement of eggs ; for my opinion is, that all 
our species, excepting the Green Heron, never lay more nor less than three, 
