83 The Wilson Bulletin — No. 60. 



THE BIRDS OF POINT PELEE. 



BY P. A. TAVERNER AND B. H. SWALES, 



(Continued from page 53.) 



32. *Botaiinis Iciitif/inosiis. — American Bittern. 



An abundant summer resident, remaining until late in the fall. 

 Gardner reported seeing a bird on the marsh Jan. 25 and Feb. 13, 

 1907. Undoubtedly breeds commonly. 



33. *Ardeita exilis, — Least Bittern. 



Common summer resident on the marshes, especially near the base 

 along the dyke, where the wetness and softness of the muddy bottom 

 is evidently to its liking. Migration dates on this species, especially 

 in the fall, are hard to get. The local name for the bird on the 

 Point is "Strike-fire," and under that name it was reported by the 

 shooters Sept. 2, 1907, which gives us our latest date. 



34. *Anlea hcrodias, — Great Blue Heron. 



A common summer resident. About four o'clock in the afternoons, 

 both in spring and fall, numbers of them can be seen winging their 

 way from the marshes, where they have been spending the day, to 

 the stakes of the pound nets off shore on either side of the Point. 

 There they balance themselves awkwardly on the swaying ropes, or 

 stand statuesquely on top of the stakes and take toll of the contents 

 of the nets. Sometimes nearly a dozen can thus be seen about one 

 net, and the fishermen regard the fish so taken as no small item. One 

 evening Taverner witnessed them making their way out to their usual 

 stand with the greatest difficulty, against a heavy head wind. Sev- 

 eral seemed unable to make it, and returned to content themselves 

 with what they could find along the shore. The wind at this time 

 was blowing about sixteen miles an hour. It was evident that such 

 a wind is about the limit, that the early fall l»irds at any rate can 

 make head against. In the early morning. Great Blue Heron tracks 

 can be seen all over the sand of the eastern beach, though we have 

 seen but few there during the daylight hours. So it seems that many 

 come to the shores in the night to feed. In early September we have 

 seen them rise up from the marsh in the daytime, when disturbed by 

 shooters, in flocks numbering a dozen or more individuals. 



35. Ardea cerulca? — Little Blue Heron. 



Sept. 22, 190G, we examined a white heron in the possession of Mr. 

 .John Conover, then of Leamington. The bird, an old mounted one, 

 was situated so as to be difficult of examination, but as far as we 

 could see it was pure white, without plumes and the legs were painted 

 green. We therefore enter it under this heading with a question 



