442 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Family AEDEID^ : The Herons. 



*171. Ardea herodias, Liuu. — Great Blue Heron. 

 All abundant constant resident. 



*172. Herodias alba, j3. egretta, (Gm.). — American Egret. 



This species was first noticed at Stockton, in the spring of 1878, on 

 the 1st day of Ajiril. It is common in summer, and my impression is 

 that it is a constant resident, as it remained here this year up to the 5th 

 of December.* On the 7th of December, 1878, I saw a flock of forty 

 or fifty at Stockton. 



76641 



ad. 



Stockton Sept. 24, 1878 



*'173. Garzetta candidissima, (Gm.). — Lesser Egret. 



The first of this species observed after March 6, 1878, vvas a flock of 

 seven or eight on May 21. It was rarely seen after October 4, and I sup- 

 posed it had gone, but on the 20th of November I saw a flock of nearly 

 a hundred. I have not noticed it since that time, though it may have 

 gone to the centre of the tule swamps. It is aii abundant summer resi- 

 dent at Stockton. 



76642 



ad. 



*Stocktoii July — , 1877 



*174. Butorides virescens, (Liuu.). — Green Her on. 



The Green Heron is an abundant summer resident of the valleys. It 

 was first seen at Stockton April 15, 1878, and disapj)eared in the first 

 week of October. 



Many built their nests in the willows by the San Joaquin Eiver. I 

 examined three nests. In one of them were six eggs ; in the other two, 

 four eggs each. 



74300 

 74301 



d ad. 

 — ad. 



*Stockton. 

 Murphy's . 



Apr. 15, 1878 

 May — , 1877 



*175. Nyctiardea grisea, /3. naevia, (Bodd.). — Blach-crowned NigJit Heron. 



This Heron is a common resident of the valleys. I noticed it at 

 Marysville in the winter of 1877-78. 



74302 



cT ad. 



*Stockton. 



May 1,1878 



*176. Botaurus lentiginosus, (Moutag.). — American Bittern. 



The Bittern is a very abundant resident in the vicinity of Stockton. 

 I also saw it at Marysville last winter. 



76643 d ad. *Stocktoii Apr. 13, 1878 



^ The date of writing. — R. R. 



