124 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



perhaps see the sedate bird herself, setting motionless on the nest, hopefully 

 biding her time, cheered during her long waiting by the joyous troops of the 

 swallows that flutter incessantly around. 



Referring to the same general region, Dr. Joseph Grinnell (1914) 

 writes : 



Nesting colonies were observed in trees at many points through the large 

 valleys, and one group of nests was noted on a pinnacle of rock in the narrow 

 canyon just below The Needles. Ordinarily nests were placed in the tips of the 

 largest cottonwoods in the neighborhood. Special predilection was evinced for 

 dead trees standing close to the river. This would seem to be because of the 

 clear fly way afforded to and from the nests and because of the more extensive 

 outlook possible. But there were in this region drawbacks to these advantages. 



When Edward J. Court (1908) published his description of this 

 subspecies he named it in honor of A. O. Treganza and published 

 some of his notes on the breeding habits of this heron on certain 

 islands in Great Salt Lake, Utah. The nesting habits here are so 

 different from those of other great blue herons elsewhere, that it seems 

 desirable to quote from Mr. Treganza's notes, as follows: 



Hat Island, May 8, 1906. — Found a colony of 40 pairs. All stages of nidifi- 

 cation existed, except nest building. There seems to be a decided difference in 

 the disposition of the young. Some show signs of fight as soon as you make 

 your presence known, while others pay little or no attention to your doings. 

 The nests here are placed some on the rocks and some on top of the large thorny 

 sage bushes which grow from 4 to 5 feet high. Some of the nests are very beau- 

 tiful, being built out of sage branches that have been exposed to the elements until 

 they have become a most subtle gray tone that fairly vibrates under sunlight. 

 Some of the nests measure from 4 to 5 feet in diameter. 



The nearest feeding ground for these birds is the mouth of the Jordan River, 

 some 35 miles, almost due east of the island. The flight to the feeding grounds 

 begins about 3 a. m., and by sunrise all the birds that are going for that day 

 have left the island, except a few isolated cases which may be seen going and 

 coming all day long, the main body returning so that they reach the island by 

 sundown. Some of these birds travel 50 or 60 miles from the island for food. 

 A certain portion of the birds always remain on the island during the day. Even 

 were it not for the incubation of the eggs and the care of the young, this would 

 be made necessary through the fact that as soon as a nest of eggs is left unpro- 

 tected it is immediately pounced upon by the Larus californicus, who crack the 

 eggs by pecking and feed on their contents. Here Ardea herodias is nesting in 

 company with Larus californicus and Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. 



Egg Island, May 11, 1906. — Here the Ardea herodias nests in company with 

 Larus californicus and Phalacrocorax dilophus. This island contained about 50 

 breeding pairs. All stages of nidification existed except nest building. The 

 nearest feeding ground for the birds on this island is about 15 miles. The nests 

 on this island are all placed on the higher bowlders among the reef rocks, usually 

 beside a large bowlder. The bowlder is used as a perch for the owner of the nest 

 beneath. Apparently the birds consider this bowlder as much a part of their 

 possession as the nest, for should another attempt to alight on a perch that is not 

 his own, he is immediately and properly punished for his trespassing. Such an 

 occasion as this is the only time I have ever seen the adult birds show any signs 

 of quarreling. Some of the nests on this island are very handsomely and 

 wonderfully made, two or three nests measuring each about 5 feet in diameter. 



