° 1914 J Tinker, Ornithology of Clay and Palo Alto Counties, la. 75 



3. Querquedula discors. Blue-winged Teal. — This was the most 

 common duck observed. Nests and eggs (11 in one nest) as well as young 

 birds in all stages of development were found in the outlets of Elbow and 

 Lost Island Lakes. Most of the young were well feathered and able to fly 

 on July IG. 



4. Spatula clypeata. Shoveller. — A single specimen, an adult 

 female, secured in the outlet of Lost Island Lake, August 21, was the only 

 one of this species observed. 



5. Botaurus lentiginosus. Bittern. — Very common about the 

 marshes of the region. The nests were found most frequently in the low 

 meadows bordering the marshes. 



6. Ixobrychus exilis. Least Bittern. — The Least Bittern was quite 

 common at the east end of Elbow Lake, where a number of pairs nested 

 among the rushes growing in water from three to four feet deep. An adult 

 male and female with nest and six eggs (slightly incubated) were taken here 

 on July 16, and on July 30 six nestlings and another nest with five eggs 

 nearly ready to hatch were found in the same habitat. 



7. Ardea herodias herodias. Great Blue Heron. — A relatively 

 common species about the lakes and marshes of the region. On August 

 15, an adult female was taken at Virgin Lake, and on August 22 an adult 

 male was secured at Elbow Lake. 



8. Butorides virescens virescens. Green Heron. — Occasionally 

 noted about the marshes but not as common as the preceding species. 

 An immature male with down-tipped feathers on the head was taken at 

 Elk Lake on August 19, and on August 9 an adult female was secured at 

 Trumbull Lake. The species was also observed in the outlet of Elbow 

 Lake. 



9. Nycticorax nycticorax nsevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. 

 — On August 21 an immature male was taken by Ruthven in a clump of 

 willows along a road and about a half mile from the outlet of Elbow Lake. 

 This was the only individual of the species that was certainly identified. 

 The bird had become exhausted, and was evidently forced to ahght outside 

 of its regular habitat. 



10. Rallus elegans. King Rail. — There is an adult male of this 

 species, taken near Ruthven, October 4, 1909, by Nels Hansen, in the mu- 

 seum collection. 



11. Rallus virginianus. Virginia Rail. — Undoubtedly this species 

 is rather common about the marshes of the region studied, although it was 

 only noted occasionally. Three specimens were taken: one, an immature 

 male well feathered, was secured in a slough on the south side of Elbow 

 Lake on August 3. 



12. Porzana Carolina. Sora. — The only Sora seen was an adult 

 male taken at the outlet of Lost Island Lake, August 8. 



13. Gallinula galeata. Florida Gallinule. — Very common about 

 the marshes of the region explored. Several nests with eggs and numbers 

 of immature birds were noted in the rushes and sedges. On August 2, 



