52 
GREAT HERON. 
On the tops of the tallest of these cedars the herons con- 
struct their nests, ten or fifteen pair sometimes occupying a 
particular part of the swamp. The nests are large, formed of 
sticks, and lined with smaller twigs ; each occupies the top of 
a single tree. The eggs are generally four, of an oblong point- 
ed form, larger than those of a hen, and of a light greenish 
blue, without any spots. The young are produced about the 
middle of May, and remain on the trees until they are full as 
heavy as the old ones, being extremely fat, before they are 
able to fly. They breed but once in the season. If disturbed 
in their breeding place, the old birds fly occasionally over the 
spot, sometimes honking like a goose, sometimes uttering a 
coarse hollow grunting noise like that of a hog, but much 
louder. 
The great heron is said to be fat at the full moon, and lean 
at its decrease ; this might be accounted for by the fact of their 
fishing regularly by moonlight through the greater part of the 
night, as well as during the day ; but the observation is not 
universal, for at such times I have found some lean, as well as 
others fat. The young are said to be excellent for the table, 
and even the old birds, when in good order, and properly 
cooked, are esteemed by many. 
The principal food of the great heron is fish, for which he 
watches with the most unwearied patience, and seizes them with 
surprising dexterity. At the edge of the river, pond, or sea- 
shore, he stands fixed and motionless, sometimes for hours 
together. But his stroke is quick as thought, and sure as 
fate, to the first luckless fish that approaches within his reach ; 
these he sometimes beats to death, and always swallows head 
foremost, such being their uniform position in the stomach. 
He is also an excellent mouser, and of great service to our 
meadows, in destroying the short-tailed or meadow mouse, so 
injurious to the banks. He also feeds eagerly on grashoppers, 
various winged insects, particularly dragon flies, which he is 
very expert at striking, and also eats the seeds of that species 
