^^^ioiO^^^] Hess, Breeding Birds of Central Illinois. 21 



92, 95 and 105 feet from the ground. Two sets of four and one of five eggs 

 were taken. Found them again present at the same place in 1907. Ar- 

 rives April 1 to 18. 



2. Butorides virescens. Green Heron. — Common summer resident; 

 found both in timber and orchards near running streams. One nest of 

 five eggs was found in an orchard one mile from town and three miles 

 from open water. Earliest set, 5 eggs, May 21, 1905; latest, 4 eggs, June 

 17, 1897. Arrives April 4 to 12. 



3. Nycticorax nycticorax nsevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. — 

 A not uncommon summer resident but irregular as to distribution. Ar- 

 rives April 20 to 28. Found first colony of 38 pairs breeding in Bowse's 

 Grove, June 2, 1901. All contained young but one nest from wliich I 

 took a set of four eggs. On May 12, 1902, the colony seemed much larger 

 and I took two more sets of four eggs each. During the last four seasons 

 they were breeding in smaller colonies of two and three pairs and were 

 scattered among the maple groves along Embarras Creek. May 6, 1909, 

 I found them nesting in Salt Fork bottoms. 



4. Rallus elegans. King Rail. — Rare summer resident. Have 

 always considered this rail as a migrant here because of a lack of suitable 

 territory. Tliis season, 1909, however, I found five pairs nesting and 

 attribute its apparent absence during past seasons to my ignorance of its 

 habits. My first nest of 11 eggs was located June 10, 1909, in a small 

 swampy spot along the Wabash R. R. tracks one mile from town. On 

 June 13, 1909, I found one nest of 10, one of 11, and two of 12 eggs in small 

 ponds along the Embarras. 



5. Bartramia longicauda. Upland Plover. — Common summer resi- 

 dent of our upland pastures, arriving March 28 to April 8. Earhest nesting 

 date, four eggs, May 4, 1900. Latest four eggs. May 20, 1906. They 

 often fly over the village on moonlight nights of early spring uttering their 

 sharp alarm notes. We hear their long pleasing wliistles at all hours of 

 the day during April. On May 16, 1906, I found a nest of four eggs in a 

 clover patch within the village corporation. 



6. Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. — Common summer resi- 

 dent along our smaller streams and open ditches. Arrives May 9 to 18. 

 One nest of four eggs was taken May 30, 1905. This shore bird sometimes 

 nests quite a distance from water. 



7. Oxyechus vociferus. Killdeer. — Common summer resident. Ar- 

 rives March 7 to March 17. The male of one pair wliich returns to a tile 

 factory pond in the village each season, spends the first three days after 

 arrival flying over town repeating its clamorous notes. Like the Upland 

 Plover, the Ivilldeer often flies on moonhght nights. They begin nesting 

 shortly after arrival and I found eggs at the point of hatching April 16, 

 1898. During 1900, I found nests with fresh eggs on the dates April 30, 

 May 23, June 1, June 8, and June 20. Corn-fields are the favorite sites 

 for June nests and one at the edge of the village June 1, 1909, contained 

 four eggs resting on a lining of small pebbles. 



