398 Fowler, Birds of the Florida Keys. [^f 



a large sheepshead (Archosargus) of about ten inches in length. As a 

 result of this extraordinary feat the fish had completely filled the abdo- 

 minal cavity, greatly crowding the viscera and to the apparent great dis- 

 comfort of the bird. In fact it was so thoroughly gorged that it had little 

 disposition to fly, and made but little resistance when captured. No sex 

 organs were developed. 



9. Ardea herodias wardi. Big Blue Heron; Blue Heron. — 

 Large nests, probably of this species, were seen in the mangroves on the 

 Marquesas. I also saw several birds there and others on Mangrove and 

 Snipe Keys. 



10. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. Louisiana Heron. — Boca 

 Chica, Sugar Loaf and Knight Keys. Common on the bird-rock off Vaca 

 Key, associated with the White Ibis, Green Heron, dark and white plum- 

 aged Little Blue Herons, Kingbird, Grackles and Red-wings, all of which 

 appeared to roost there in numbers. When disturbed the Grackles and 

 Red-wings rose up in great flocks from the undergrowth, all keeping up an 

 incessant clucking. The water birds possibly used this roost to some 

 extent to avoid the numerous mosquitos of the mainland. At our ap- 

 proach the herons whirled about overhead in flocks, but usually alighted 

 again in or near the same places, such as the tree-tops. 



11. Florida caerulea. Little Blue Heron. — Seen at Mangrove 

 Key and the Marquesas Keys. 



12. Butorides virescens. Bitterling. — Found in some numbers 

 on the roost north of Vaca Key. Mostly seen down among the lower 

 bushes or flying near the water, and not at all shy. Their familiar cry 

 was frequently heard. 



13. Nycticorax violaceus. Gauldin. — Marquesas, Boca Chica, Sugar 

 Loaf, West Cudjoe's and Riding Keys. Used as food. 



14. Symphemia semipalmata. Willet. — The shrill and plaintive 

 whistling cry of this bird was heard at Cudjoe's Key where about half a 

 dozen individuals were seen. 



15. Rallus crepitans scottii. Mud Hen. — One example killed on 

 West Cudjoe's Key, and another with young was reported from Riding 

 Key June 26. This is regarded as a game-bird. 



16. Ochthodromus wilsonius. Ring-necked Snipe. — A flock of 

 about ten were seen on Ballast Key along the rocky shore. They were 

 quite tame, keeping but a short distance ahead and continually uttering 

 their piping notes. A pair also frequented Hailer's Rock where they were 

 probably breeding as two small eggs, smaller than any of the terns,' were 

 found. 



17. Columba leucocephala. Pigeon. — Boca Grande, Boca Chica, 

 Sugar Loaf, No Name, Vaca, Bahia Honda and Summerland Keys. A 

 flock of about twenty-five was seen at one time on the Marquesas, and 

 while frequently observed at various other places in this group they were 

 always shy. Usually but two or three were seen at one time and then as 

 they were flying about from one island to another. They seemed to pre- 

 fer the concealment afforded by the luxuriant vegetation. 



