60 BULLETIN: MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 



Ardetta exilis (Ghel.). 

 Least Bitterx. 



It is somewhat singular that the Least Bittern has not been previoiisly re- 

 ported from Lower California, for Mr. Frazar found it in considerable numbers 

 at San Jose del Cabo in September and October. The first individual was 

 seen on August 29, and the last about October 21. The period of greatest 

 abundance was between September 18 and October 11, but the birds varied 

 greatly in numbers from day to day, indicating that they came and departed in 

 successive misratorv flitjrhts or " waves." None were noted elsewhere. 



The range of the Least Bittern is very extensive, including the whole of tem- 

 perate North America as well as Mexico, Central America, and the northern 

 portions of South America to Brazil. There is some evidence, — not perfectly 

 conclusive, however, — that it breeds as far south as the Lake of Duefias, 

 Guatemala. It is very common in summer in the interior of California. The 

 Cape Region, therefore, is probably included within its general breeding range, 

 and it would not be surprising to find it nesting about the lagoon at Santiago, 

 which seems to be admirably adapted to its requirements. 



Ardea herodias Lixn. 



Great Blue Heron. 



Ardea herodias Baird, Brewer, and Ridgwat, Water Birds N. Amer., 1. 1884, 15, 

 16 (discusses tlie "very light colors " of a Cape St. Lucas specimen, No. 

 3.3,134, Nat. Mus ). Belding, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., V. 1883, 548 (San 

 Jose). Bryant, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 2d ser., II. 1889, 268 (San Jose del 

 Cabo). 



The only Great Blue Heron which I have seen from Lower California is an 

 adult male (No. 33,134) in the National Museum, which was taken by Mr. 

 Xantus at San Jose del Cabo in February, I860. This specimen has the bill 

 and wing as long as in small specimens of wardi, but the tarsus is not longer 

 than in typical herodias. The coloring is peculiar in several respects, the up- 

 per wing coverts being creamy drab, instead of bluish slate as in herodias and 

 icardi, the dorsal plumes unusually light colored, and the fore neck, as well 

 as the nape for an inch or more below the occiput, pure creamy white. There 

 is also much less black than usual on the underparts, especially on the breast, 

 which is chiefly creamy white. Mr. Riilgway has already called attention ^ to 

 some of these differences. Should they prove characteristic of the birds of Lower 

 California they would entitle the form to recognition as a di-stinct subspecies. 



Mr. Beldmg notes this Heron as rare, but ^Ir. Frazar saw " numbers " about 



1 Ridgway, Loc. cit. 



