30 EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



191. Least Bittern, Botaurits exilis. (Type, Plate IV.) 

 Eggs, 3 to 5, elliptical, pale bluish green ; .95 -|- 1.25 to 1.00 -|- 

 1.30. Nests, composed of weeds, etc., and placed in reeds, grass, 

 or low bushes. Breeds through temperate North America, south 

 of the British Provinces ; rare in the more northern sections. 

 Eggs known by the pale color and small size, but those of the 

 remaining members of the family, where they are to be sepa- 

 rated at all, must be distinguished by the size alone. 



191a. Cory's Least Bitterx, Botaurus neoxena. Eggs, 

 unknown. Only one specimen of the bird known, and that 

 was obtained in 1886, in Western Florida. 



192. Great White Heron, Ardea occidentalis. Eggs, 2 or 

 3, elliptical, pale bluish green; 1.80 + 2.40 to 1.85 + 2.45. 

 Breeds in Southern Florida, and on the Keys. 



192a. WuRDEM Ann's Heron, Ardea toiirdemannii. Eggs, 

 2 or 3, varying from oval to elliptical, j^ale bluish green ; 1.80 

 + 2.60 to 1.85 + 2,90. Breeds in extreme Southern Florida 

 and on the Keys, in March. 



193. Ward's Heron, Ardea wardii. Eggs, 2 or 3, varying 

 from elliptical to oval, rather pale greenish blue; 1.66 + 2.50 

 to 1.80 + 2.83. Breeds in Florida, in March. 



194. Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias. Eggs, 3 or 4, 

 varying from elliptical to oval, greenish blue; 1,60 + 2.50 to 

 1.75 + 2.80. Breeds throughout North America, in suitable 

 locations, excepting Florida, from March to May, according to 

 latitude. 



195. European Blue Heron, Ardea cinerea. Eggs, 3 or 4, 

 oval, bluish green ; 1,75 + 2,25 to 1,80 + 2.30. Extralimital; 

 most of the Eastern Hemisphere ; birds accidental in Southern 

 Greenland, 



196. American Egret, Ardea egretia. Eggs, 2 to 4, oval 

 or elliptical, rather pale bluish green; 1,40 + 2.20 to 1.65 + 

 2,35. Breeds from New Jersey, Minnesota, and Oregon, south, 

 to Patagonia; in Florida, in April; further north, as late as 

 May. 



