30 
GREAT HERON. 
On the tops of the tallest of these cedars the Herons construct 
their nests, ten or fifteen pair sometimes occupying a particular 
part of the swamp. The nests are large, formed of sticks, and 
lined with twigs, each occupies the top of a single tree. The eggs 
are generally four, of an oblong pointed 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 
\intil they are full as heavy as the old ones, being extremely fat, be- 
fore 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 ; tliis 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 uni- 
vei’sal, 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 es- 
teemed 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 a river, pond, or the seashore, 
he stands fixed and motionless, sometimes for hours together. 
But his stroke is as quick as thought, and as 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 grasshoppers, various winged insects, particularly 
dragon-flies, which he is very expert at striking ; and also eats the 
