384 Erichsen, Birds of Liberty County, Ga. [juiy 



presence there of many of these birds throughout the summer can be 

 accepted as conclusive evidence that the Water Turkey breeds abundantly. 

 2\ Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. Louisiana Heron. 



3. Florida caerulea. Little Blue Heron. 



4. Butorides virescens virescens. Green Heron. — On April 28 

 I paid a visit to a rookery containing several nests of the Louisiana Heron 

 besides many of the Little Blue and Green Herons. The nests of the two 

 former species were all placed at such heights that, lacking the necessary 

 equipment with which to make ascents, I was unable to examine their 

 contents. There is little doubt, however, but that many of the nests 

 contained full complements of eggs at this date, as the birds were con- 

 tinually flying to and from them. The majority of the nests of the Green 

 Heron were placed at low altitudes, mainly from four to twelve feet above 

 the water which covered the swamp, and were easy of access. Of twelve 

 nests examined, nine contained four eggs each, and the remaining three 

 held three eggs each. 



Although the Green Heron must nest at many other localities in the 

 county, these were the only nests that came under my observation. As 

 for the Little Blue and Louisiana Herons, it is doubtful or extremely improb- 

 able that any other colonies exist in the county, as personal efforts as well 

 as those of several correspondents failed to discover any. 



This rookery is situated in a remote part of the Altamaha swamp near 

 the Mcintosh county line, and is probably known to but few persons. 

 The majority of the trees are cypresses of large size, with a few isolated 

 gums and willows on the outskirts. To my regret I was unable to pay 

 a second visit to this interesting place. 



Since the above was written, I have been informed that a colony of 

 American Egrets and Snowy Herons exists in the Altamaha river swamp 

 near where the Seaboard Air Line Railway bridge crosses that river. 



5. Rallus elegans. King Rail. — On April 20, quite by accident, 

 I stumbled upon a nest of the King Rail containing six eggs. On the 

 afternoon of the 25th, I returned to the nest which then held eleven eggs, 

 showing that the female had deposited an egg every day. The nest was 

 placed fourteen inches above water, in rushes growing in an abandoned 

 rice plantation, and was composed of the stalks and leaves of cattail flags. 

 Additional field work would undoubtedly prove the King Rail to be a 

 common breeder in the county. 



6. Rallus crepitans waynei. Wayne's Clapper Rail. — This rail , 

 is confined exclusively to salt water marshes and is abundant. The 

 marshes bordering the mainland and inland islands north of St. Catherine's 

 island are their favorite resorts, although they are found more or less 

 abundantly in all of the salt marshes bordering the rivers and creeks that 

 go to make up the extensive inland waterway of Liberty county. A nest 

 found May 9 contained eleven eggs. On July 19 I noted a nest containing 

 seven eggs. These nests were composed of the blades and stems of the 

 marsh grass and were placed in the marsh just above high water mark. 



