858 BULLETIN OF THE 



135.* Gallinula martinica Latham. Purple Gallinule. 

 Well known as a resident bird of Florida, but not observed by 

 either Messrs. Maynard and Boardman or myself. 



ARDEID-E. 

 136 * Demiegretta ludoviciana Baird. Louisiana Heron. 

 Common. 



137 * Demiegretta Pealei Baird. Pe ale's Egret. 

 Several specimens of this beautiful species were brought home by 

 Mr. Maynard from Indian River, taken at Dummitt's. This is some- 

 what farther north than any point from which it has been previously 

 reported. 



138.* Garzetta caildidissima Bonaparte, kittle "White Heko*. 

 Abundant. Breeds in February and March. 



139.* Herodias egretta Gray. White Heron. 



Abundant. Breeds early in the season. At a small heronry on an islet 

 in Lake Dexter 1 found several nests containing nearly fledged young, 

 March 23d. The nests, built eight to fifteen feet above the ground, were 

 composed of a few sticks loosely put together. Often they were placed 

 in the tops of bushes which were thickly overgrown with woody vines. 

 The young, when shaken from the nest, climbed through the vines, 

 using their bills as an organ of prehension, either seizing the branches 

 between their mandibles or hooking their bills over them, and clung so 

 closely that it was exceedingly difficult to dislodge them. 



This and the preceding species are greatly persecuted by the hun- 

 ters, who sometimes destroy great numbers at their breeding places, 

 so many of the birds being killed and the others so much alarmed, that 

 large heronries are thus completely broken up. Some gunners make 

 it their business to hunt them for their plumes. Some means should 

 be devised, however, for the protection of these beautiful birds, as at 

 their present rate of decrease their number will soon be greatly di- 

 minished. 



140.* Ardea herodias LinnC. Great Blue Heron. 

 Abundant. Breeds in the retired swamps, nesting in the highest 

 cypres3-trees. It is rare that more than a .single nest is seen in one 



