154 LEAST BITTERN 



of twigs and sticks. Before the young are large 

 enough to fly, they creep about in tlie tree-tops or sit 

 in a row on a branch waiting to be fed. The eggs, 

 3 to 6, are dull greenish-blue. 



Great Blue Heron: Ardea herodias. 



Length about 4 feet. 



Upper parts bluish-gray; long neck pale brownish-gray, 

 streaked with black spots down the front. 



Low crest black, except middle feathers, which are white. 



This splendid Heron is more or less common all the 

 year, and is supposed to breed in this vicinity, but is 

 not positively known to do so. He wanders about in 

 the water, hunting fish and frogs, and is said to eat 

 mice and snakes also. He hunts at night as well as 

 by day. These Herons nest and roost in trees, gen- 

 erally in colonies. The nest is a platform of sticks, 

 and the eggs, 3 to 4, are dull blue. 



Least Bittern: Ar delta exilis. 



Length 13 inches. 



Male, head and neck glossy black; back of neck chestnut- 

 red. 



Under parts buffy. 



Female, head and back brownish; under parts darker than 

 in male and streaked with brown. 



Resident (not common) May 5 to September 25. 



This is the smallest of the Herons and is exceed- 

 ingly shy and retiring, keeping in the thickest reeds 

 and grasses of the marshes. He seldom flies unless 

 alarmed and then only a few yards. He feeds mostly 

 at night and is not likely to be seen before sunset. 



The nest is on the ground in thick rushes or in a 

 low bush. The eggs, 3 to 6, are bluish-white. 



