( 136 )
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LOUISIANA HERON.
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ARDEA LUDOVICIANA, WILS.
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PLATE CCXVII. MALE.
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DELICATE in form, beautiful in plumage, and graceful in its movements,
I never see this interesting Heron, without calling it the Lady of
the Waters. Watch its motions, as it leisurely walks over the pure sand
beaches of the coast of Florida, arrayed in the full beauty of its spring
plumage. Its pendent crest exhibits its glossy tints, its train falls gracefully
over a well defined tail, and the tempered hues of its back and
wings contrast with those of its lower parts. Its measured steps are so
light that they leave no impression on the sand, and with its keen eye
it views every object around with the most perfect accuracy. See, it has
spied a small fly lurking on a blade of grass, it silently runs a few steps,
and with the sharp point of its bill it has already secured the prey. The
minnow just escaped from the pursuit of some larger fish has almost rushed
upon the beach for safety ; but the quick eye of the Heron has observed
its motions, and in an instant it is swallowed alive. Among the herbage
yet dripping with dew the beautiful bird picks its steps. Not a snail can
escape its keen search, and as it moves around the muddy pool, it secures
each water lizard that occurs. Now the sun's rays have dried up the
dews, the flowers begin to droop, the woodland choristers have ended their
morning concert, and like them, the Heron, fatigued with its exertions,
seeks a place of repose under the boughs of the nearest bush, where itmay
in safety await the coolness of the evening. Then for a short while
it again searches for food. Little difficulty does it experience in this;
and at length, with the last glimpse of day, it opens its wings, and flies
off towards its well-known roosting-place, where it spends the night contented
and happy.
This species, which is a constant resident in the southern parts of the
peninsula of the Floridas, seldom rambles far from its haunts during the
winter season, being rarely seen at that period beyond Savannah in Georgia
to the eastward. To the west it extends to the broad sedgy flats
bordering the mouths of the Mississippi, along the whole Gulf of Mexico,
and perhaps much farther south. In the beginning of spring, it is
LOUISIANA HERON. 137
found abundantly in the Carolinas, and sometimes as far east as Maryland,
or up the Mississippi as high as Natchez. You never find it far
inland : perhaps forty miles would be a considerable distance at any time
of the year. It is at all seasons a social bird, moving about in company
with the Blue Heron or the White Egret. It also frequently associates
with the larger species, and breeds in the same places, along with the
White Heron, the Yellow-crowned Heron, and the Night Heron; but
more generally it resorts to particular spots for this purpose, keeping by
itself, and assembling in great numbers. Those which visit the Carolinas,
or the country of the Mississippi, make their appearance there about the
first of April, or when the Egrets and other species of Heron seek the
same parts, returning to the Floridas or farther south about the middle
of September, although I have known some to remain there during mild
winters. When this is the case, all the other species may be met with in
the same places, as the Louisiana Heron is the most delicate in constitution
of all. Wrhilst at St Augustine in Florida, in the month of January,
I found this species extremely abundant there ; but after a hard frost of
a few days, they all disappeared, leaving the other Herons, none of which
seemed to be affected by the cold, and returned again as soon as the Fahrenheit
thermometer rose to 80°. There they were in full livery by the
end of February, and near Charleston by the 5th of April.
Although timid, they are less shy than most other species, and more
easily procured. I have frequently seen one alight at the distance of a
few yards, and gaze on me as if endeavouring to discover my intentions.
This apparent insensibility to danger has given rise to the appellation of
Egrette fotte, which is given to them in Lower Louisiana.
The flight of this beautiful Heron is light, rather irregular, swifter than
that of any other species, and capable of being considerably protracted.
They usually move in long files, rather widely separated, and in an undulating
manner, with constant flappings. When proceeding towards their
roosts, or when on their migrations, they pass as high over the country as
other species; on the former occasion, they pass and repass over the same
tract, thus enabling the gunner easily to shoot them, which he may especially
calculate on doing at the approach of night, when they are gorged with
food, and fly lower than in the morning. They may, however, be still
more surely obtained on their arriving at their roosting place, where they
alight at once among the lowest branches. On being shot at, they seldom
fly to a great distance, and their attachment to a particular place