58 



eallert them cranes. A few days later. May 24. V.)^^. Dr. P.. S. Totter, 

 Superiuteucieiit of the Marion County Asylum for the Insane at Julietta. 

 very kiucTly drove me to it. This heronry is situated in Section 23. Town- 

 ship 5, Range 15. in Hancock County. Indiana. The land is owned l>y 

 Anton Schildmeier. wlio came to it with his father in 1S";7. aid it li i'^ 

 been in the family ever since. The herons were first seen about five years 

 before my visit. They occuiiietl a timber tract of 70 acres, which remains 

 to tills day much as it was when the iiieseut owner came to it. It is a 

 splendid hit of the primeval forest, containing some of the hrest i-pecinif: s 

 of the characteristic trees of tliis latitude. No amount of money can 

 temjjt this old pioneer to i>art with his big trees, which he loves so dearly. 

 Neither will he iierinit a hunter or <ither itersoii who is li il)le to disturb 

 the liii'ds iiiron tli'_^ jiremises. 



When the herons lirst occui)ied tiiese woods they built their nests in 

 sycamore and other trees. More re<-enlly they have chosen and are (jccu- 

 pying tlie largest oak trees. 



At tlie time of my visit the heaves had come out so th.e o;'p'irtnnity f'l- 

 cbservatioii was not as good as it had been a little earlier. Dr. I'otter 

 reported that on a formi'r visit that spring he had counted sixty-live nests. 

 One tree contained thirteen. Those who lia\c nttcmiitcil to count them 

 think there are about sixty birds. If this is true some of tlie ncsls arc old 

 ones not occnpicd. .Mi-. Scliildmcicr. who is .-i careful iibss-rxcr. sa.\s the/ 

 return every spring with the lirst few warm days in .March. He has seen 

 twelve to lifteen at «>ne time feeding in tiic wet meadows along Due run. 

 which flows tliri;n'_'h the farm. When I visiled the locality the eggs wi're 

 hatched. Tlie young were making a noise and egg shells were common 

 under the large trees bearing the nests. 



'J'o one who knows what to look l'< r. these bii'ils may be seen not only 

 by travelers along the Rrookville road, but also fi'om the steam ami trac- 

 tion cars. Doubtless the nests ai-e also visible when the leaves are otT the 

 trees. I am indebte(l to Paul Shideler for a very good photogi-apli taken 

 a slioi't time before my visit. It is ]iriiited herewith. 



