132 



inches in length. Some of tlie nests wei'e qnite mathematically built, 

 the material being arranged so tliat the usual cylindrical form would 

 become either a decided pentagonal or hexagonal figure. The nests 

 averaged from twelve to fifteen inches In diameter at the top and 

 from ten to thirty inches in depth. So firmly were thej^ built that I 

 several times stood upon a large nest, to take a more extended view, 

 and did it but little damage. A few contained fresh eggs, and a few 

 had youiig from one to ten days old, but the majority contained eggs 

 with half grown eml)ryos. The parents exliil)ited great solicitude 

 while we were in the vicinity, but were so cautious that we succeeded 

 in shooting but two. 



Genus Botaurus Steph. 



241. B. minor Boie. Bittern. Very common summer resident 

 in marshes and prairie sloughs. Arrives the last of March and de- 

 parts the first of November. Nests principally in prairie sloughs. 

 In over a dozen nests examined I have found but little variation. 

 They are generally placed in rank swamp-grass or rushes close to tlie 

 surface of the water, from which the nest is separated by a mass of 

 gi'asses and other material either found upon the spot or collected 

 from the immediate vicinity by the birds. The nest itself is a loosely 

 formed platform constructed of the material nearest at hand, be it 

 grass or reeds. In one instance some boys collecting for me found a 

 nest of this species which the female refused to desert, so it was cap- 

 tured and brought me alive with the eggs, which were but slightly 

 addled. 



Genus Ardetta Gmy. 



242. A. exilis (Gmel.). Lkast Bittern. A common summer 

 resident everywhere in marshes and sloughs. It arrives the first of 

 May and nests the last of this and all of the following month. The 

 nest of this species I have always found supported, from one to three 

 feet above the water, by the surrounding rushes. It is a very frail 

 structure, being a thin platform from one to three inches thick, with 

 scarcely depression enough in the centre to prevent the eggs from 

 rolling out, and is composed of small dry pieces of reeds. The eggs 

 vary from two to six in number. When approached while upon the 

 nest the female generally slips quietly to one side and endeavors to 

 find concealment, but should the approach of the intruder be hasty, 

 she seeks safety in flight. Under ordinaiy circumstances this species 

 places its nest by itself, but shoukl an unusually good feeding ground 

 be discovered, containing but one or two small patches of reeds, it 

 will make the best of circumstances, and in such a place I have often 

 found six or eight nests in close proximitj\ 



