142 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE Vol. XXV, 191S 



the iinprcssio2i of a great uamber of birds. This flock was last 

 seen on March 31. 



29. Botaurns lentiginosus. Bittern. A tolerably common 

 migrant from April 5 to May 19. Less common migrant from 

 August 27 to October 24. 



A rare summer resident. A pair was seen about a small pond 

 near Mormons Ridge thromgh June and July of 1915, and 

 undoubtedly nested. This species would be more plentiful if it 

 were not used as a target by many gunners. Lack of suitable 

 nesting sites also prevented its breeding in any numbers. 



30. Ixohrychus exilis. Least Bittern. The least bittern was 

 a rare migrant and also a rare breeding species. Two birds seen 

 at the Goose pond on ]\Iay 22, 1915, were the only migrating 

 birds to come under observation. 



On June 28, 1915, a nest was found in a small swamp near 

 Mormons Ridge. At this time it contained four eggs. When 

 the nest was again visited on July 23, it contained four downy 

 young which were not over four or five days old. 



31. Ardea kerodms herodias. Great Blue Heron. A common 

 spring migrant from March 28 to May 12. Much more common 

 in the fall from July 25 to November 22. A male secured No- 

 vember 8, 1913, along Iowa river had his feet frost bitten but 

 was otherwise in good condition. On April 8, 1913, Mr. Henry 

 Friese brought in a male in fine plumage which had been shot at 

 the Goose ponds. These herons became quite numerous during 

 August and as they were unmolested got tame and unsuspicious. 

 After September 1 they became rare as those which -were not 

 killed left the territorj' after the opening of the hunting season, 



32. Butorides virescens virescens. Green Heron. A very 

 common summer resident from April 24 to September 26. A 

 single belated individual was found November 6, 1914, on ]Mi- 

 nerva creek. A female was seen flying from a nest in a tall 

 elm on June 28, 1915, at ^Mormons Ridge, No attempt was made 

 to reach this nest but one egg could be seen with the aid of the 

 glasses. 



33. Nycticorax nycikorax naevius. Black-crowned Night 

 Heron. The blaek-ci'owned night heron was an uncommon spring 

 migr-ant from May 3 to IMay 29 and a cnnnnon fall migrant from 

 July 27 to October 3. A single innnaturo bird was taken on No- 



