. The water birds of North America [microform]. Birds; Water-birds; Oiseaux; Oiseaux aquatiques. 42 ALTRICIAL fJRALLATORES â IIEUODIONES. I I' son is extremely unsuspicious and easily approached. It acquires its full plumage the second year, but continues to increase in size for several years. The flesh of the young bird is said to afford good eating. Its food consists of small fry, water insects, slugs, snails, leeches, and aipiatic lizards. According to Mr. Moore, it is a true Kn-dpi'r or rukrr ; but, like the Jleddish Egret, resorts to this practi(!e much less freipiently than the mndklissl
. The water birds of North America [microform]. Birds; Water-birds; Oiseaux; Oiseaux aquatiques. 42 ALTRICIAL fJRALLATORES â IIEUODIONES. I I' son is extremely unsuspicious and easily approached. It acquires its full plumage the second year, but continues to increase in size for several years. The flesh of the young bird is said to afford good eating. Its food consists of small fry, water insects, slugs, snails, leeches, and aipiatic lizards. According to Mr. Moore, it is a true Kn-dpi'r or rukrr ; but, like the Jleddish Egret, resorts to this practi(!e much less freipiently than the mndklissliHU. It saunters about at times in tlie waters of tlie l>ay, ne.;; the shores, on sandbars, and in the fresh jKUids, in an awkward and heedless manner. There is less dash and impetuosity in its style of fishing, or seeking its i)rey, than in that of the Reddish Egret, although it runs through the clear water of the J>ay, with its wings exi)anded, and sonu'tiuu's flapping, suddenly .vheeling. and halting to keej) its eyes on the flying flsh. At other times â imitating the little (ireen Heron â having noticed some object near the surface, a yard or more distant, it lowers its head, d(mbles up its neck, draws its head back to its , holds its bill in a line with its back, which is parallel to the surface of the water, and creeping al-ng by very slow steps till within striking distance, thrusts its bill forward suddenly at the object. This is a very common practice, either in the liay or in fresh ponds, and only this bird and the Green Heron adopt this catlike mode of creeping, crouching, and springing upon their prey. Eggs of this species in my collection, obtained by Dr. Bryant in Florida, measure inches in length by LS'2 in breailth. They are oval in shape, one end but just perceptibly more obtuse than the other. Their color is Prussian blue, with a slight shading of green, and of a deeper tint than most of the eggs of this family. Mr. Moore thinks that th
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1884
