100 



AVIFAUNA COLUMBIANA. 



193. (163.) Botaurus mugitans (Bartr. ) Cones. (B. lentiginosus of the original edi- 

 tion.) Bittern; Stake-driver; "Indian Hen." 



Resident, and rather common. Found chiefly in the marshes of the 



Fig. 87.— Bittern. 



Potomac and Anacostia, and boggy estuaries leading to these rivers. 

 It is the only Heron which passes the winter here. [666 J 



194. (162.) Ardetta exilis (Gm.) Gray. Least Bittern. 



A summer resident, rather uncommon. Arrives early in May and 

 departs in September. Found chiefly in the Zizania aquatica marshes. 



There are no heronries in the District to our knowledge; and the 

 Small Green Heron is the only abundant and generally distributed rep- 

 resentative of the family Ardeidw. [667] 



Order ALECTORIDES : Cranes and Rails. 

 Suborder GRUJFORMES: Cranes. 

 Family GRUID.F, : Cranes. 



195. (l- r >7.) Grus pratensis Bartr. (G. canadensis of the original edition.) 



A specimen of this bird has been procured in the District. We doubt, 

 however, that the bird has been seen here alive for the past quarter of 

 a century, and it might properly be retired from the active list. [670] 



Suborder RALLIFORMES: Rails. 



Family EALLID^E : Rails. 



196. (— .) Rallus longirostris crepitans (Gm.) Ridg. Clapper Rail. 



Not in the original edition. Has been observed but once, as we are 

 informed both by Mr. Eobert Eidgway and Mr. William Palmer. An 



