Birds of Wakulla County^ Florida 115 



April 7, 1914. May 10, 1919, two flushed at a small pond. 



49. Ixotrychus exitis — Least Bittern. 



A regular summer dweller in our larger marshes and about 

 inland ponds where a heavy growth of reeds and grass abound. 

 At times, probably often, they nest in small colonies. May 22, 1911, 

 a nest was found with four young seemingly but three or four 

 days old. April 3, 1918, earliest arrival record. 



50. Ardea herodias icardi — ^Ward's Heion. 



Very generally distributed except while attending to their af- 

 fairs of incubation, when they generally associate in colonies of 

 a few or many. Singly and in small groups they wade the shoals 

 along shore or glean from pond or stream. Almost as wary as au 

 old Turkey they move off on labored wing, beat far in advance of 

 an approaching boat, seemingly in no haste, yet " safety first " by 

 virtue of a timely start. March 16, 1918, young in nest. May 16, 

 1916, young almost ready to fly. 



51. Perodias egretta — Egret. 



While greatly diminished in numbers, compared with years 

 gone by, this conspicuous bird is frequently to be seen in small 

 companies along shore or on a favored marsh. I have not seen a 

 nesting locality, but believe a few breed regularly with us. May 

 24, 1913, June 29, 1913, October 3, 1916. 



52. Egretta thula thula — Snowy 'Egret. 



The dainty and much persecuted " Little Egret " was form- 

 erly an abundant breeder in this locality. Alas! it has almost dis- 

 appeared and one hears with sorrow the tales of the hundreds that 

 were shot for their "scalps." I have no personal dates of their oc- 

 currence for several years, but sometimes hear of one being seen 

 by an old timer, who claims to distinguish them from the imma- 

 ture of F. ccerulea. R. W. Williams, Esq., noted two at East Goose 

 Creek November 24, 1917. Auk, January, 1919. 



53. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis — Louisiana Heron.^ 



An abundant resident, nesting at times in large colonies, two 

 hundred to four hundred pairs. Sometimes associate at nesting 

 time with F. ecerulea. They are rarely molested. The nests are 

 usually placed in bushes near water, but on May 7, 1917, I dis- 

 covered a colony of four hundred or more pairs nesting on a low 

 island two miles off shore; the nest is a slight depression in the 

 drift or reeds as left by an extra high tide. May 7. 1917, eggs 

 fresh. June 6, 1915, a few eggs had hatched. Local name, " Sil- 

 ver Gray Heron." 



54. Florida ccerulea — Little Blue Heron.^ 



^ See " Some Florida Herons " in Wilson Bulletin, June, 1918. 

 ^ On May 7, 1916, an immature (white) specimen was shot, 

 showing considerable progress towards an adult plumage. 



