1 84 



Scott, Sitpplemoitary Notes on Florida Birds. [April 



eggs are laid. I have taken in this vicinity young ready to fly as early 

 as the 2oth of February. Two young are more commonly reared in a 

 brood, though occasionally I have seen three in a nest. 



The breeding season is protracted, and seems to vary with localities, as 

 I found 3'oung not more than two weeks old late in May near Punta Rassa, 

 which point is about one hundred and fifty miles south of Tarpon 

 Springs. Two broods at least are reared each season. 



Ardearufescens. Reddish Egret. — Though I have demonstrated to 

 my entire satisfaction that this species is identical with the so-called A. 

 pealei, the result of the investigations carried on will be briefly recapitu- 

 lated to enforce and emphasize the facts that substantiate the position 

 taken. The birds are common on the Gulf coast of Florida as far north 

 as Anclote Keys, but at certain points one or the other phase seems to 

 predominate, the species being represented in the southern part of the 

 area almost wholly by white individuals and in the northern part the 

 dark form largely predominates. However, at points in Charlotte 

 Harbor, both phases occur commonly, and here I obtained several speci- 

 mens in parti-colored plumage, i. e., partly dark colored, mottled or pied 

 with white feathers (see Auk, Vol. IV, No 3, p. 215). Mr. George 

 B. Sennett recently kindly allowed me to examine several Reddish Egrets 

 collected by himself on the Texas coast, two of which showed to a marked 

 degree this same parti-colored condition of plumage. 



Finally, to go back several years, I quote from the 'Bulletin of the 

 Nuttall Ornithological Club,' Vol. VH, 1881, p. 20 : 



"At Clearwater and just south of it, and particularly at points on Old 

 Tampa Bay, I found \h.& Reddish Egret {Ardea rufii) abundant. While 

 most common in the dark plumage, many were noted and some obtained 

 in the white plumage, the so-called Ardea pealii. They began breeding 

 in March and wei-e breeding commonly in April, Mr. Devereux obtaining 

 numerous sets of their eggs, varying from four to six in number. This 

 gentleman {o\xx\.6. young in both plumages in the same nest where the 

 parents Avere both blue birds " Mr. Devereux was at this time my assist- 

 ant and eminently qualified to make correct and careful observations. I 

 had been obliged to leave the point in question before the breeding season 

 began, but had called his special attention to the thorough investigation 

 of the problem, which at that time, the winter of 1S79-S0, was still an 

 open one to my mind. 



Macrorhamphus scolopaceus. Long-billed Dowitcher. — Of rather 

 common occurrence near Tarpon Springs in the fall and early winter 

 months, and I have specimens taken near Fort Meyers, on the Caloosa- 

 hatchie River, in December. 



Tringa maritima. Purple Sandpiper. — A specimen of this species 

 was taken by Mr. J. W. Atkins, at Gordon's Pass, west coast of Florida, 

 in November, 18S6. This occurrence greatly extends the known range of 

 this species to the southward, it being of rare occurrence on the Atlantic 

 coast south of Long Island, N. Y. I am indebted to Mr. Atkins for the 

 opportunity of examining and recording this interesting specimen. 



Ereunetes occidentalis. Western Sandpiper. — Though not so abun- 



