NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 121 



Shelter Island, New York, who has collected large quantities of these 

 eggs from the heronry on Gardiner's Island, says that four is the usual 

 number laid. Out of all the sets that he and Mr. VVorthington had col- 

 lected for three years there were but four sets containing more than four 

 eggs; these were three of five and one of six. The Oua-bird or Squawk, 

 as it is sometimes called, is distributed in summer throughout the United 

 States from the British Provinces southward. It breeds abundantly in 

 New England, wintering from thence southward to Florida. This species 

 like others breed in communities; hundreds, and even thousands, colonize 

 and form extensive heronries. Tall trees are usually selected for the nest- 

 ing sites, and they are not always easy of access. The nests are bulky 

 platforms of twigs, and considerably hollowed. Mr. Grifhng says as 

 many as four nests were found in one tree, all containing eggs. Mr. 

 Delos Hatch, of Oak Center, Wisconsin, says that this bird in that local- 

 ity nests on the ground in a large marsh, miles from any bush or tree, the 

 nests being made of cat-tails, flags, and long grasses. 



496. White-crowned Night Heron — nyctherodius violaceus. Green- 

 ish-blue, uspotted, varying from elliptical to oval; two to four; size from 

 1.90 to 2. long by 1.40 to 1.50 broad. This Heron is distributed in sum- 

 mer from the Carolinas southward, but it is not abundant, and is confined 

 chiefly to the coast. Occasionally it strays north to the Middle States. 

 A constant resident in Florida. The nest is built as usual in trees and 

 bushes, and the birds congregate in communities to breed. Yellow- 

 crowned Night Heron is its other name. 



497. American Bittern — botaurus lentiginosus. Brownish drab 

 with gray, unspotted, elliptical; three to five; size from 1.90 to 2. long by 

 about 1.50 broad; This noted bird is known by various names, such as 

 Indian Hen, Stake Driver, Bog-bull, and Thunder Pump. It inhabits the 

 entire temperate North America, north to 58° or 60°, and breeds chiefly 

 from the Middle districts northward, wintering thence southward. The 

 name last mentioned is occasioned by its hoarse, gurgling cry of alarm, and 

 the bird is often spoken of by the poets as the "booming bittern." In 

 the breeding season it has a love-note that resembles the stroke of a 

 mallet on a stake, chiink-a-liink-c/mnk, qiLank-chnnk-a-lwik-cJmnk. This 

 bird inhabits almost impenetrable swampy places: the bog, the reedy 

 marsh, and the tangled brake, where its nest is placed on the ground. 



498. Least Bittern — ardetta exilis. Pale blue, or rather bluish- 

 white, unspotted, elliptical; three to five; size about 1.92 by 1.22. This 

 neat little Bittern is distributed throughout the United States and British 



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