Summer Birds of a JSFo^'thern Ohio Marsh. 227 



67. ToTAxus MELANOLEUCUS, Vieillot. — Greater Yellow-legs. — July, 

 1879. {Porter.) 



68. ToTANUS FLAViPES, VieiUot. — Lesser Tellow-legs. [Porter.) 



69. ToTANUS soLiTAKius, AucUibon. — Solitary Sandpiper. — July, 

 1879-80. {Porter.) 



70. Trixgoides macularius, Gray. — Spotted Sandpiper. — Common. 



Order Herodioxes: Heroxs, Ibises, etc. 

 Family Ardeid^: Herons. 



71. Ardea herodias, Linnyeus. — Great Blue Heron. — Very common, 

 and as shy as usual. 



72. Herodias egretta, Gray. — Great White Egret. — Usually com- 

 mon in August and September. {Porter.) 



73. BuTORiDES yirescens, Linnaeus. — Green Heron. — Breeds. {Por- 

 ter. 



74. BoTAURUs MixoR, Boic. — American Bittern, — A few specimens 

 only observed. Breeds. ( Porter.) 



75. Ardetta exilis, Gray. — Least Bittern. — Quite common, fre- 

 quenting- and nesting amongst the " deer-tongue" and "saw-grass," 

 at a considerable distance from land. Judging from the depth of 

 water in situations where they were most numerous, we inferred that 

 they spend much of their time clinging to the tall aquatic grasses, and 

 walking about on the lily "pads" in search of food. They uttered no 

 sound when flushed, and flew as noiselessl}^ as owls. The nest is a rather 

 bulky affair for the size of the bird, composed entirely of " saw- 

 grass," a platform being constructed by bending a number of green 

 blades toward a common center so that they cross each other at a 

 height of fifteen or twenty inches from the water; this platform is 

 slightly depressed in the center, and the depression lined with a few 

 blades of dried grass of the same species as that used in the founda- 

 tion. Four eggs, of a A^ery faint greenish-blue tint and rounded oval 

 in shape, constitute a full set; those taken were incomplete, containing 

 from two to thi-ee eggs., which were fresh and probably the second lay- 

 ing of the season. They evidently build an entirely new nest for the 

 second brood, as the grass was still fresh and green in those observed. 



Order Alectoroides : Craxes, Eails, etc. 

 Family Rallid^: Rails. 



76. Rallus elegaxs, Audubon. — King Rail; Fresh-water Marsh 

 Hen. — One specimen taken by Mr. Porter, July 3d. 



77. Porzaxa CAROLiXA, Cabauls. — Sora Rail. {Porter.) 



