58 HOW TO NAME THE BIRDS 



130. LEAST BITTERN. 



Greenish-black Brownish-yellow . 



11-14. Eye, yello^ ; crown, back, and tail, glossy green- 

 ish-black ; hind-neck, chestnut ; sides of neck, breast, and 

 abdomen, brownish-yellow ; throat, whitish ; blackish patch 

 on side of breast ; legs, green ; $ has chestnut crown and 

 back. 



Breeds throughout, but rare north of Mass. and not abundant 

 south ; in marshes ; nest, on or near ground ; eggs, 3-5, white, blue- 

 tinged. 



HERONS. 



These are the largest of our water birds, living in wooded 

 swamps, often in colonies, and nesting in trees. 



131. GREAT BLUE HERON. 



Slaty-blue Black. 



42-50. Bill and eyes, yellow ; crest of long feathers and 

 2 plumes, black ; head, black and white ; long, slender 

 shoulder-feathers, grayish ; long legs. 



Nest, in tree or bush ; eggs, 3-4, pale greenish-bkie ; found in 

 pairs, small flocks, more rarely in large heronries ; identified by great 

 size and dark plumage ; winters occasionally in N. J. 



132. GREAT WHITE HERON. 



Pure white. 



36-42. No crest, but in breeding season with splendid 

 train of long plumes from back, reaching beyond tail ; legs, 

 black. 



A southern species, but vefy rarely throughout range ; nesting, like 

 " great blue," 



