62 
Cl CON II FORMES 
White Herons or Egrets 
Though not forming a recognized systematic division of the herons, 
there are several species showing pure white plumages that are distinct 
enough to warrant discussion. 
In some of these species, particularly the egrets, white is the adult 
plumage; in others, it is dichromatism, that is, the species occurs in two 
colour phases, either of which is normal, and cannot be referred to either 
albinism or melanism, or to sex, age, or season. In still other species the 
white is a plumage of juvenility. These white plumages were a source of 
considerable confusion in identifying species until they were fully worked 
out. All the white herons are of southern distribution and are rare in Canada. 
196. Great White Egret, la grande aigrette. Casmerodius albus. L, 41. Almost 
as large as the Great Blue Heron, but always pure white. In breeding season a cascade 
of some fifty, fine, straight phunes originates in middle back region and festoons over 
lower back and tail. No plumes on head or neck. 
Distinctions. Large size, colour, and obviously heron-like outline. Straight plumes 
from back (Compare Figure 101 with Figures 102 and 103). 
Field Marks. As above. 
Nesting. In communities, in nests of sticks in trees or bushes over water. 
Distribution. The southern and Gulf states, appearing in Canada only as an acci- 
dental straggler. Most frequent in the east, but there is one record for Manitoba. 
SUBSPECIES. Of almost world wide tropic- 
al and subtropical distribution. The form in North 
America is the Great American Egret (la Grande 
aigrette d’Amerique) Casmerodius albus egretta. 
The Great Egret, with the Little 
Egret and some other species of like 
character, constitute the source of the well- 
known “aigrette” or “osprey” plumes 
of the millinery trade. As those plumes 
are grown only in the breeding season 
and as the immediate neighbourhood 
of the breeding rookeries is the place 
where these wary birds can be most 
easily approached it is evident that 
the harvesting of the beautiful crop is 
accompanied by great cruelty. The de- 
fence is often made that the plumes are 
picked up after being shed by the parent 
bird. If any one searches domestic 
poultry yards for good shed feathers he 
will quickly realize that recovered “aig- 
rette” plumes will probably lie few in 
number and of poor quality. The explan- 
ation is more absurd as the rookeries are 
situated in dense, subtropical swamps 
where all below is mud and water and the 
undergrowth prevents close, systematic 
search even were the spoils worth re- 
trieving. The plume hunter usually hides 
in the rookery and with a small calibre Figure 101 
rifle shoots the birds one by one until the American Egret; scale, I. 
