174 Beyer, Allison and Kopman, Birds of Louisiana. [\prii 



equal numbers of adults and young birds, moving at evening from the 

 feeding grounds, and in the mornings returning from the roosts. Local 

 (Creole) name: Beccroche (Crooked bill). 



66. Scarlet Ibis (Guara rubra). The occurrence of this species in 

 Louisiana as noted by Audubon is the only reliable record of which we have 

 knowledge. A specimen in the State Museum in New Orleans prepared, 

 by a New Orleans taxidermist, is said to have been killed in Louisiana about 

 1888, but the chain of testimony in this particular case is imperfect. 



67. G'LOSSY Ibis {Plegadis autumnalis) . A resident in the same section 

 as the Roseate Spoonbill, but not as common as the following species. 



68. White-faced Glossy Ibis (Plegadis guarauna). Resident and 

 breeding in southwest Louisiana. Several small flocks at Lake Prieu, 

 Calcasieu Parish, in September, 1898 (Beyer). 



69. Wood Ibis (Tantalus loculator). Appears to be growing rarer 

 every year. Occurs in the vicinity of hea\y swamps in various parts of 

 the State. Two nesting colonies of about 40 birds each were formerly 

 observed in St. Tammany Parish on the Bedico and Bogue Chitto Rivers 

 (Beyer), while it has been seen in summer in Cameron Parish, in south- 

 western Louisiana, and in Madison Parish, diagonally across the State. 

 In the latter section there are some very deep swamps, and considerable 

 numbers were noted there in July, 1896 (Kopman). The nests of the 

 colonies noted in St. Tammany Parish were bulky and fonned of large dry- 

 sticks, placed at an elevation of 25 or 30 feet, directly over a waste of mud 

 and water. The flock composing one of these colonies was seen using two 

 tall dead tupelos as roosting places later in the season, beginning about 

 August 1. Wood Ibises were seen at Lake Catherine, La., in October, 

 1904. 



70. American Bittern {Botaurus lentiginosus) . Breeds in limited 

 numbers; common as a winter resident. Local (Creole) name; Gaze- 

 Soleil (Sun-gazer) . 



71. Least Bittern (Ardetta exilis). An abundant resident in the 

 marshes of the coast; more conspicuous, and doubtless more abundant, 

 in summer than in winter. Has been noted also in simimer about the 

 marshy edges of heavy swamp lakes in northeastern Louisiana (Madison 

 Parish). Nesting begins the latter part of April, in the latitude of the Gulf 

 Coast. This species is commonest along the borders of bayous in the 

 marsh. 



72. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). A common resident in 

 all sections of the State. It is most plentiful, of course, in marshy and 

 swampy sections, and about large expanses of water. Large numbers 

 are never seen in one locality as with the smaller herons. 



73. American Egret (Herodias egretta). A resident, but less common 

 in winter than in summer. Is growing less common. Occurs along the 

 coast and at suitable localities inland. 



74. Snowy Heron (Egretta candidissima) . It has been at least twenty 

 years since this species has occurred in any considerable numbers. A few 



