PROCEEDINGS OF U.vlTED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 443 

 177. Ardetta exilis, (Gm.) —Least Bittern. 



The Least Bittern is very rare,— certainly not often seen. I saw a 

 straggler or migrant at Murphy's in the spring of 1877, and one at 

 Stockton during the fall of 1878. These are aU I have met with m two 

 years. 



76644 $ juv. 



Stockton.. 



Sept. 14, 1878 



Taken from a But£0 

 elegans. 



Family IBIDID^ : The Ibises. 



178. Plegadis guarauna, {Unn.). -White-faced Glossy lUs ; Bronzed lUs. 



The Glossy Ibis was first seen at Stockton in the spring of 1878, on 

 June 9, when three were noticed. A small flock was observed here on 



September 18. -r i ^i « + ^ 



I have shot it here, some years ago, as early as July or the first ot 

 August, and have seen several flocks July 25, 1870, m Sutter County. 

 It is at times quite common in Sutter County in sprmg. 



Family GEUID^: The Cranes. 



179. Grus canadensis, (Lmn.). -Sand-liill Crane. 



A common winter resident of the valleys, arriving the last of Septem- 

 ber and leaving about the first of May. I shot one at the Summit 

 Meadows in August. 



Family EALLID^: Eails, Gai^linules, and Coots. 



180. Rallus virginianus, Linn. — Virginian Bail. 



This Kail appears to be a rare bird in California, though occasionaUy 

 seen in winter. 



76645 



$ ad.* Stockton Apr. 9,1878 



181. Porzana Carolina, (Linn.).— Sara Bail. 



I have seen but five or six of this species in California. One of them 

 was shot in winter at Marysville. 



182 Porzana jamaicensis, {Gm.)f— Utile Black Bail. 



I remember shooting a very small dark Eail at Stockton more than 

 twenty years ago, and suppose it was this bird. It must be very rare. 



*183. Gallinula galeata, {lAi^-^t.).— Florida Gallinule. 



A rare constant resident in the vicinity of Stockton. I have seen on 

 an average about three annually. 



76646 



-juv. *Stockton- 



Sept. 16, 1878 



Web of moutli, eyelids, or iris (or both) vermilion. 



