THE BIRDS OF HAITI AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 77 



Bryant, Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., vol. 11, May, 1867, p. 97 (listed).— 

 Tristram, Ibis, 1884, p. 168 (specimen, Dominican Republic). — Cory, Birds 

 Haiti and San Domingo, Dec, 1884, p. 153; Cat. West Indian Birds, 1892, p. 

 89 (Haiti and Dominican Ptepublic). — Tippenhauer, Die Insel Haiti, 1892, pp. 

 317, 323 (listed). 



Egretta thula thula, Peters, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 61, 1917, p. 397 

 (Monte Cristi, and mouths of Bios Piedra, Ori and San Juan). — Beebe, Zool. 

 Soc. Bull., vol. 30, 1927, p. 13S (Etang Miragoane) ; Beneath Tropic Seas, 1928, 

 p. 219 (Etang Miragoane). — Bond, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, vol. 80, 

 1928, p. 490. — Danforth, Auk, 1929, p. 360 (Vaequez, Monte Cristi, Bonao). — 

 Moltoni, Att. Soc. Ital. Scienz. Nat., vol. 68, 1929, p. 308 (Bonao, specimens). 



Resident, in the lagoons and marshes of the lowlands, mainly near 

 the coast; now rare. 



Salle has included the snowy heron in his list of birds from the 

 Dominican Republic without record of where he saw it, his notes 

 apparently furnishing the basis for subsequent inclusion of the 

 species by Bryant and Cory. Tristram 24 records a specimen with- 

 out locality in a collection made by C. McGrigor. Peters seems to 

 be the only observer who has found the bird in any numbers. He 

 noted it at Monte Cristi February 6, 1916, and near the mouths of 

 the Rios Piedra, Ori, and San Juan from March 3 to 14, at times in 

 small flocks. Abbott' found it uncommon at Lake Enriquillo near 

 Duverge from October 1 to 6, 1919. Danforth found it near Vasquez 

 June 25, near Monte Cristi August 5, and on the Yuna near Bonao 

 August 7, 1927. Ciferri collected three on the Yuna near Bonao 

 February 8 and April 5 and 6, 1927. 



In Haiti Abbott secured a male at Jeremie on December 28, 1917, 

 and Bartsch recorded the snowy heron at Trou Caiman April 4, 

 1917. Beebe saw six or eight at the Etang Miragoane, March 2, 

 1927, and Bond observed it at the same point in 1928. It is probable 

 that this species was represented among many white herons seen 

 by Wetmore from an airplane on April 28, 1927, in passing over 

 the coastal swamps south of Gonai'ves, but of the identity of these 

 the observer could not be certain. Descourtilz, in April, 1799, found 

 the snowy heron common at " lagon Peinier " in the plain of the 

 Artibonite, and says that the scapular plumes were sold for one 

 hundred francs per ounce, being more valuable than those of the 

 large species. Ritter reported the snowy heron near Fort Royal. 



These graceful birds are found in lowland swamps and lagoons, 

 often among mangroves but also on fresh waters farther inland 

 where they feed on fishes and large insects. They are alert and 

 wary and seldom permit close approach. Their nuptial plumes 

 though smaller than those of the large egret have been highly prized 



- 4 Ibis, 1884, p. 168. 



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