62 PROCEEDINGS OP THE ACADEMY OF 



(Communicated by the Smithsonian Institution.) 



Notes on the BIRDS of Jamaica. 



BY W. T. MARCH. 



With remarks by S F. Brd. 



III. 

 ARDEIDJZ. 



All the North American Ardeidae are to be obtained in the Island of Jamaica. 

 The Ganlins and Bitterns are of more frequent occurrence than the larger He- 

 rons, and are found at all seasons and in every part of the island where 

 there is water, at the cattle ponds, along the river courses, in the mangrove 

 swamps, lagoons, and marshes, and in considerable numbers on tbe neighbor- 

 ing islets and kays during the breeding season. The Ardeidae all build on 

 trees ; the nests are platforms, constructed of sticks filled in with leaves, 

 trash, twigs and bark, forming a shallow bedding, on which the eggs are de- 

 posited. In the mangroves the nest is composed principally of the decaying 

 pods of the black mangrove. 



The eggs of all are emerald green, or rather, of the tint called aqua- 

 marine, varying in shade, and in dimensions according to the size of the 

 bird ; those of the Gaulins are four or five in number, measuring about 



1 , (j by 1 jg of an inch; the typical eggs rounded at both ends, though 

 some are pointed at one end ; a small kay off Old Harbor, known as Barebush 

 Kay, is a favorite resort of all the Gaulins, Bitterns and Night Herons during 

 the breeding season. 



The larger Herons are not of so frequent occurrence as the Gaulins and 

 other Ardeidae during the late spring and summer months ; but Ardea hero- 

 dias and Herodias egretta are not uncommon during the autumn and winter ; 

 they are, however, more difficult of approach than the smaller species, being 

 very wary and vigilant ; their resort during the breeding season is usually 

 to the deep recesses of the mangrove swamps and morasses. Their eggs are 

 of similar form and color, but larger than those of the Night Heron. I have 

 not often met with the nest of the larger Herons ; but have notes of two, 

 one from Salt Island Creek, Herodias egretta, containing three eggs, and 

 the other, Ardea herodias with four eggs from the Ferry Lagoon. On both 

 occasions the nests were taken from the topmost branches of a Corkwood 

 (Anona palusiris). The Herons are generally in good condition from the fall 

 of the year until the following spring, but, as with most of the fish-feeding 

 birds, must be divested of the skin, which otherwise imparts a rank and 

 unpleasant flavor to the flesh. 



There are periods, but not of long continuance, in which the Egrets, par- 

 ticularly the White, are seen several together, iu our marshes. The numbar 

 may be twelve or twenty. They seem attracted by some prevalent living 

 food on these occasions ; ordinarily they feed singly, or at most in couples, in 

 the shaded spots of our rivers above the water shoal. There are collected 

 at the present time (January, 1864) at a sedgy pond near Spanish Town up- 

 wards of twenty, principally Garzetta candidissima, with a few of Herodias 

 &gretta, Florida cccrulea and Demiegretta ludoviciana and nivea. 



110. Florida csrulea. The length of the Blue Gaulin or Florida Heron is 

 about 22 inches, expanse 36^, flexure 11, leg 4, bill 3 ; occipital feathers 

 lengthened, without a crest; prevailing color dark indigo blue, head and 

 neck with a purplish tinge ; dorsal plumes lengthened ; wing feathers grey- 

 ish beneath ; iris yellow, orbits light blue, bill leaden blue ; legs and feet 

 black. The young are white with spots of blue about the wings and body ; 



[Mar. 



