THE GREAT HERON. 
Ill 
three-toed, the outer joined to the middle by a broad and 
strong, membrane, and each bordered with a rough, warty 
edge ; the soles of the feet are defended from the hard sand 
and shells by a remarkably thick and callous warty skin. 
On opening these birds, the smallest of the three was 
found to be a male ; the gullet widened into a kind of 
crop ; the stomach, or gizzard, contained fragments of shell- 
fish, pieces of crabs, and of the great king-crab, with some 
dark brown marine insects. The flesh was remarkably firm 
and muscular; the skull, thick and strong, intended, no 
doubt, as in the woodpecker tribe, for the security of the 
brain from the violent concussions it might receive while 
the bird was engaged in digging. The female and young 
birds have the back and scapulars of a sooty brownish olive. 
THE GREAT HERON. (Ardea Herodias.') 
The Great Heron (says Mr. Wilson) is a constant inha- 
bitant of the Atlantic coast, from New York to Florida; in 
deep snows and severe weather seeking the open springs of 
the cedar and cypress swamps, and the muddy inlets occa- 
sionally covered by the tides. On the higher inland parts 
of the country, beyond the mountains, they are less nume- 
rous; and one which was shot in the upper parts of New 
