CHAPTER XV
INTRUDING ON WARD'S HERONS
Ward's heron is the Florida variety of the
great blue heron, like him only more so. There is
slight difference in the marking, the Ardea wardi
having olive instead of black legs, whiter lower
parts, and a somewhat darker neck. But Ward's
heron is almost a foot taller than the other, and
when you see the two fly side by side you might
well think the great blue heron the little blue
heron, so much does this peninsular prototype
dwarf his compatriot of wider range. There are
Ward's herons in the big lagoon here east of
White City mornings that I am confident stand
six feet in height. Out there on marshy islands
they have a superb dignity of pose, statues of
frozen alertness. Taking wing they blanket the
landscape with wide pinions and their legs stretch
rudder-wise to a great length behind them, while
their necks are doubled back on themselves till the
head is hunched in between the shoulders and the
protruding neck curve looks like a pouch. By
this use of the neck you will know them in the
