144 Merrill on Birds of Fori Klamath, Oregon. [April 



Ardea virescens. One of these Herons was seen at Crooked Creek 

 May 4. 



Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Breeds abundantly in the marsh. 



Grus mexicana. Sandhill Cranes are rather common in spring and 

 autumn, arriving late in March, and several pairs breed in the marsh. 

 They are more common, however, on Klamath Marsh. 



Grus canadensis. A female was taken June 10, the dimensions of which 

 were as follows : length from ^«5e of maxilla, 28.50; tarsus, 6.75; wing, 

 16.50; tail, 6.0a; middle toe, 3.00; bare skin on forehead dark reddish; 

 iris light brown ; tarsi and feet black. The bill had been shot off within 

 an inch of its base, and the tongue was distorted; the injury had healed 

 entirely, and the bird was in fair condition, but the ovaries were unde- 

 veloped and it would probably not have bred this year. It was first seen 

 in a marshy pool just outside the Fort, and was so small that I did not 

 identify it as a Crane until I had approached it within thirty yards and 

 could distinctly see the bare reddish skin on the forehead. It flew away 

 uttering its characteristic note, but soon came back, and on returning 

 with my gun I had no difficulty in shooting it. 



Porzana Carolina. Breeds commonly in the marsh. A nest found 

 May 27 was among water grass near the edge of a shallow pool, and was 

 supported by the stalks of the grass ; the eggs were raised about six 

 inches above the water, but the foundation of the nest was wet; it was 

 composed entirely of the dead stalks and blades of the grass, and was 

 rudely arched over with growing blades of the same. It contained twelve 

 eggs from which the young would have soon appeared, and which aver- 

 age 1.36 X .88. Another nest containing nine nearly fresh eggs was found 

 June 15; in situation and construction this was like the other. 



Fulica americana. Common in the marsh, especially in the deeper 

 parts near the lake. Breeds abundantly. 



Phalaropus tricolor. Common during the migrations, a few pairs re- 

 maining to breed. On June 22 I watched a pair for some time. The 

 female on my approach flew several hundred yards to meet me, circling 

 around and occasionally uttering the usual cry. The male was flushed, and 

 showed much solicitude when I came near a certain place, where after 

 some search I found the nest, containing broken shells of three eggs from 

 which the young had recently escaped. It was placed in a low tussock 

 of marsh grass, well hidden by the fresh green blades, and composed of 

 dead stalks and blades of the same. 



Gallinago delicata. Very abundant in spring and fall ; some pass the 

 winter along the edges of the smaller streams, and many remain to breed. 

 Their bleating is heard from the latter part of April till the middle of 

 June, most frequently about sunrise and sunset, but occasionally at all 

 hours of the day and night. A set of four eggs was brought to me on 

 June 3. The nest was placed in a tussock of grass growing in a marshy 

 place near Wood River, and consisted merely of a few blades of grass, 

 both dry and green, forming a shallow depression. The eggs average 

 1.61 X 1. 10, and incubation was considerably advanced. 



Totanus solitarius. Specimens taken May 12 and August 16. 



