276 TRANSACJriONS OF THE [1895 



Heron. At Washington, it is given as " rare and only casual 

 towards the end of summer " (A. C, 99), and "although usually 

 rare, it is sometimes extremely abundant, a flock of about 150 

 frequenting the shores of the Potomac during August 1875" 

 (P. L. Jouy, Field and Forest, iii, 51). 



Ardea virescens (201). Green Heron. 



Common summer resident, arriving the last of March, a nest 

 ready for eggs was found April 15 ('91), and as late as Octo- 

 ber 12 ('89, Pesler), one was taken at Back River. I have found 

 eggs in the nest from April 22 ('81), to June 12 ('94); sets are 

 4 of 3, 13 of 4, and 8 of 5. On several occasions, in diiFerent 

 parts of the state, I have come across " heronries " of this species 

 the number of nests ranging from 6 to 1 7, but single nests may 

 be found scattered everywhere, usually near marshy land, or 

 water. 



Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (202). Black-crowned 

 Night Heron. 



Locally common, otherwise rare, from April 1 ('93, Gray) 

 to October 17 ('94, Pe«Jer). Only a few miles from Baltimore 

 city a colony has nested for several years of which Mr. G. H. 

 Gray, supplied the following : "More than 6 years ago infor- 

 mation of the approximate breeding site was received. It was 

 not until April 16, 1892, however, that it was found, when 

 about 30 nests were in various stages of completeness. They 

 were in slender black oaks, near the top, and about 50 feet from 

 the ground. On April 30 the majority coutaiued eggs. 2 

 had 5; 3 had 4, 10 or 12 had 3 ; the others 2 or 1. On June 

 24, many of the young were perched about the limbs of the nest 

 trees while others were still on the nests. On March 25, 1893, 

 none had arrived, but on April 1, seven were seen. On May 6, 

 nests with eggs were found in a clump of small scrub pines ad- 

 joining the oaks, which they had vacated. A few days previous 

 to our visit a severe wind storm had shaken these pines and the 



