Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume VIII.djvu/708

 690 HERON plumage. The common heron of Europe (A. cinerea, Linn.), celebrated in old times as the bird which afforded the principal sport in fal- conry, is of a bluish ash color, with a black crest on the hind head, and the fore part of the neok white with black dots ; the shoulder Louisiana Heron (Ardea Ludoviciana). of the wings and the primaries black ; a naked space around the eyes. Its food con- sists of fish, frogs, aquatic insects and mol- lusks, mice, moles, and similar small animals. The nest is generally on a high tree in the vicinity of a river. The flight is sometimes very high, and is performed with the legs hanging behind, and the head and neck rest- ing on the back. It makes at times a harsh and loud scream; when taken young, it be- comes so far domesticated as to associate with domestic fowl ; though a royal bird in respect to game, its flesh is unfit for food. It is dis- tributed over most parts of the old world ; among some eastern nations the crests of the males are highly esteemed as ornaments. The purple heron of Europe (A. purpurea, Linn.) is very handsome, with the elegant shape of a heron and the rufous and purplish tints of the bitterns. The Louisiana heron (A. Ludomci- ana, Wils. ; demiegretta, Baird) is about 27 in. long, with an extent of wings of 3 ft. ; the bill is very slender ; the head with a long crest, the feathers, with those of the neck and upper back, lanceolate; like the egrets, it has the feathers of the lower back plumose and length- ened ; the color above is slaty blue on the head, neck, and exposed upper parts; lower back, rump, under parts, and middle line of throat, white ; occiput and back of neck pur- plish ; bill brownish black above and at tip ; the female is like the male. From its beauty of form and plumage and grace of motion, Audu- bon calls this heron the "lady of the waters;" it is found on the coast of the southern Atlan- tic and gulf states, never far inland ; it keeps in company and sometimes breeds in the same places with egrets and other herons; it is not very shy, and its flight is irregular and swifter than that of any other species. The nests are generally within a few feet of the ground, on low bushes, and very close to each other, made of small dried sticks crossed in various ways, flat, and each containing three eggs ; these are about li by 1 in., nearly elliptical, of a pale greenish blue, thin, and smooth ; the period of incubation is 21 days ; as of most herons, the flesh of the young, before they leave the nest, is considered good eating. The snowy heron (A. candidissima, Gmel. ; genus garzetta, Bo- nap.) is about 23 in. long, with an extent of wings of 38 in. ; the head is ornamented with a full occipital crest of feathers with hair-like webs, and similar plumes on the lower part of the throat; dorsal plumes reaching to the end of the tail. The color is pure white ; the bill black, yellow at base ; legs black. It is found on the coast of the middle and southern states, and across the continent to California ; it is a constant resident in Florida and Louisiana, and is occasionally seen as far north as Massachu- setts. They breed in large communities with other herons and with grakles, in a similar manner to the preceding species; the man- groves of Florida are favorite places for their nests; the eggs are three, about If by 1 in., broadly elliptical, and pale bluish green ; both sexes incubate, and the young in Florida leave their nest about the middle of May, and a month or two later further north ; both egga and young are destroyed by crows and turkey buzzards. They resort to the borders of salt marshes, and feed on shrimps, small fish, crus- taceans, snails, lizards, frogs, and aquatic in- sects; in the pursuit of their prey they run Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). quickly through the shallows, throwing up their wings in a rapid and graceful manner ; when wounded they defend themselves with the bill with great courage. The great blue heron (A. herodias, Linn.), generally called blue crane, is 4 ft. long to end of tail, with an extent of wings