198 
it breeding here at all during the summers of ’95 and ’96, and have also failed 
this (97). This rarity of the Blue Bird seems to be due to a severe spell of 
weather which occurred late in the spring of ’95 (I believe it was) and which 
seemed to have worked great havoc not only in the case of the Blue Bird, but in 
some other instances. Still I have observed a few individuals during the migra- 
tions. I first noted it this spring on February 16, and probably altogether saw 
not more than twelve or fifteen individuals, and none of these remained with us. 
During the fall of ’96 I failed to note it at all until on October 3, when I saw 
three. It yet remains to be seen whether after a few years nature will restore the 
equilibrium, and whether we will again have with us ‘‘the blessed Blue Bird, 
bearing the sky upon her back.” 
Nores on InpIANA Heronrigs. By A. W. BUTLER. 
The Great Blue Herons have for years been known to breed throughout 
the State, some places singly, at others in small companies, and again in 
considerable numbers. The Black-crowned Night Heron also breeds in 
heronries often near to or included in a nesting community of the last 
mentioned species. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron has only been re- 
ported as breeding in Knox county, where it attains its most northern 
breeding range. There Mr. Robert Ridgway found a community of about 
a hundred pairs nesting in the tall ash and sweet gum trees in a creek 
bottom near Monteur’s Pond, in April, 1881. From the same vicinity Mr. 
Ridgway reported the Snowy Heron as breeding. The American Egret 
has been known to breed in the lower Wabash Valley. This was supposed 
to be its most northern breeding ground. Late in the summer, after the 
duties to the family were done they Were supposed to wander farther to 
the northward, even reaching northern Indiana, Michigan and Ontario. 
“This supposition seemed to be further borne out by the fact that there 
were, with very few exceptions, no records north of southern Indiana at 
the time of the spring migrations. It seemed quite unusual that they 
should wander northward in such numbers after the nesting season, con- 
sequently when I began to hear of one or two pairs being found in com- 
pany with some colony of Great Blue Herons I was prepared to believe 
that if the right locality was found they might still be found breeding 
in some numbers in the northern part of this State, provided man’s agency 
had not in some way destroyed them. 
