is such that you are sure to find them there during the whole period of
their stay in the country, excepting the breeding time. At the cry of a
wounded one, they assail you in the manner of some Gulls and Terns,
and may be shot in great numbers by any person fond of such sport.
On the 29th of April, while wading around a beautiful key of the
Floridas, in search of certain crustaceous animals called the sea Cray-fish,
my party and I suddenly came upon one of the breeding places of the
Louisiana Heron. The southern exposures of this lovely island were
overgrown with low trees and bushes matted together by thousands of
smilaxes and other creeping plants, supported by various species of cactus.
Among the branches some hundred pairs of these lovely birds had
placed their nests, which were so low and so close to each other, that
without moving a step one could put his hand into several. The birds
thus taken by surprise rose affrighted into the air, bitterly complaining
of being disturbed in their secluded retreat. The nests were formed of
small dried sticks crossing each other in various ways. They were flat,
had little lining, and each contained three eggs, all the birds being then
incubating. Observing that many eggs had been destroyed by the Crows
and Buzzards, as the shells were scattered on the ground, I concluded
that many of the Herons had laid more than once, to make up their full
complement of eggs; for my opinion is, that all our species, excepting
the Green Heron, never lay more nor less than three, unless an accident
should happen. The eggs of the Louisiana Heron measure one inch
and six and a half twelfths in length, an inch and a quarter in breadth ;
they are nearly elliptical, of a beautiful pale blue colour inclining to green,
smooth, and with a very, thin shell. The period of incubation is twentyone
days. Like all other species of the genus, this raises only one brood
in the season. The little island of which I have spoken lies exposed to
the sea, and has an extent of only a few acres. The trees or bushes with
which it was covered seemed to have been stunted by the effect produced
by their having been for years the receptacles of the Herons'* nests.
On the 19th May, in the same year, I found another breeding place
of this species not far from Key West. The young birds, which stood
on all the branches of the trees and bushes on the southern side of the
place, were about the size of our Little Partridge. Their notes, by which
we had been attracted to the spot, were extremely plaintive, and resembled
the syllables wiee, wiee, wiee. When we went up to them, the old birds
all flew to another key, as if intent on drawing us there ; but in vain, for
we took with us a good number of their young. It was surprising to see
the little fellows moving about among the branches, clinging to them in
all sorts of curious positions, and persevering in forcing their way toward
the water, when over which they at once dropped, and swam off from us
with great vigour and speed. When seized with the hand, they defended
themselves to the utmost. At this early period, they plainly shewed the
sprouting feathers of the crest. Many Crow Blackbirds had nests on the
same mangroves, and a Fish-Hawk also had formed its nest there at a
height of not more than five feet from the water. On the 24th of May,
these Herons were fully fledged, and able to fly to a short distance. In
this state we, with some difficulty, procured one alive. Its legs and feet
were green, the bill black, but its eyes, like those of an adult bird, were
of a beautiful red hue. Many were caught afterwards and taken as passengers
on board the Marion. They fed on any garbage thrown to them
by the sailors; but whenever another species came near them, they leaped
towards its bill, caught hold of it as if it had been a fish, and hung to it
until shaken off by their stronger associates. On several occasions, however,
the Ardea occidentalis shook them off violently, and after beating
them on the deck, swallowed them before they could be rescued!
The place farthest up on the Mississippi where I have found this species
breeding was on Buffalo Creek, about forty miles below Natchez,
and ten miles in a direct line from the great river. To the eastward I
have found them, breeding in company with the Green Heron and the
Night Heron, within a few miles of Charleston.
During summer and autumn, after the old birds have left their young,
both are frequently seen in the rice-fields, feeding along the ditches by
which the water is led to those places. At this season they are uncommonly
gentle and easily approached.
The Louisiana Heron acquires the full beauty of its plumage the
second year after its birth, although it continues for some time to increase
in size. The train and crest lengthen for several years until they become
as represented in the plate. To procure specimens in such complete
plumage, however, requires some care, for this state does not last many
days after pairing has taken place, and by the time the young are hatched
much of this fine plumage has dropped. When autumn has come,
only a few of the long barbs remain, and in winter no appearance of them
can be seen.
The flesh of the young birds affords tolerable eating. The food of