66 



ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



The eggs of this species are iu size aud shape not imlike those of the Night 

 Heron — an oblong ovaL Their shade of greenish blue is lighter and duller, and 

 the proportion of green is less marked. They vary considerably iu size. Two in my 

 collection, taken by Dr. Bryant in Florida, measure, one, 2.10 by 1.49 inches, the 

 other, 1.94 by 1.44 inches, averaging 2.02 by 1.46 inches. According to Mr. Moore, 

 the number of eggs in a set is not limited to three, as stated by Audubon, That 

 author mentions that in Louisiana, in May, 1807, he found five eggs in a nest, and 

 in the following year one with even six, and others with five or four. In Florida, 

 April 28, he found one with five and another with four eggs. Mr. Moore discredits 

 the statement that this Heron has two broods in a season, and does not believe the 

 account given by Audubon of its moving from one heronry to another in order to 

 nest and breed. 



Mr. Kidgway found this Heron breeding very abundantly at Monteur's Pond, in 

 Knox Co., Indiana, where it was much the most numerous species of the family. 

 Many dozens of pairs had their nests in tall sweet-gum and other trees, in a very 

 wet piece of " bottoms," along one edge of the pond. A female was shot from her 

 nest, and in her oviduct was found an egg ready for ejection. A few hours after- 

 ward another female was shot from the same nest ! In the similar wet bottoms of 

 Coffee Creek, in Wabash Co., Illinois, quite a colony of these birds was also found 

 nesting, the nests being placed at variou.s heights in Avhite oak and other trees. 



Genus BOTAURUS, Stephens. 



Botaurus, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XL ii. 1819, 592 (type, Ardea stcllaris, Lixn.). 

 Butor, SwAiKs. Classif. B. II. 1837, o54 (same type). 



Gen. Char. — IMedium-sized, or rather large, Heroiis, with the plumage much mottled or 

 striped with different shades of brown aud ochraceous (the plumage essentially the same in both 



'W% 



W>f7-,^. 





7>. Icntiginosus. 



sexes and at all seasons) ; the plumage, particnlarly of the lower neck in front, exceedingly soft 

 and full, and destitute of any ornamental plumes ; tlie bill comparatively small and short (shorter 



