BLUE HERON. 
123 
Rouge downwards to New Orleans, these birds are frequently met 
with. In spring they extend their migrations as far north as New 
England, chiefly in the vicinity of the sea ; becoming more rare as 
they advance to the north. On the seabeach of Cape May I found 
a few of them breeding among the cedars, in company with the Lit- 
tle White Heron, Night Heron, and Green Bittern. The figure and 
description of the present were taken from two of these, shot in the 
month of May, while in complete plumage. Their nests were com- 
posed of small sticks, built in the tops of the red cedars, and con- 
tained five eggs of a light blue color, and of somewhat a deeper 
tint than those of the Night Heron. Little or no diflerence could 
be perceived between the colors and markings of the male and fe- 
male. This remark is applicable to almost the whole genus ; tho 
from the circumstance of many of the yearling birds differing in 
plumage, they have been mistaken for females. 
The Blue Heron, tho in the northei'n states it is found chiefly 
in the neighborhood of the ocean, probably on account of the 
greater temperature of the climate, is yet particularly fond of fresh- 
water bogs, on the edges of the salt marsh. These it often fre- 
quents, wading about in search of tadpoles, lizards, various larvae 
of winged insects, and mud worms. It moves actively about in 
search of these, sometimes making a rim at its prey; and is often 
seen in company with the Little White Heron, figured in the same 
plate. Like this last, it is also very silent and watchful. 
The genus Ardea is, perhaps, the most numerous of all the wading 
tribes, there being no less than ninety-six different species enume- 
rated by late writers. These are again subdivided into particular 
families, each distinguished by a certain peculiarity. The Cranes, 
by having the head bald ; the Storks, with the orbits naked ; and 
the Herons, with the middle claw pectinated. To this last belong 
the Bitterns. Several of these are nocturnal birds, feeding only as 
the evening twilight commences, and reposing either among the 
long grass and reeds, or on tall trees, in sequesteied places, dining 
