APPENDIX. 473 



Bittern. Botaurus lentiginosus. 



Common. It comes to us early in April and remains until the 

 autumn is well spent. 



Least Bittern. Ardetta exilis. 



Frequent, but not as abundant as the preceding. Migratory. 



Ibis. Ibis falcinellus. 



" Last season (1866) Mr. John Krider shot a specimen just below 

 Philadelphia. At long intervals it has been seen on the River Dela- 

 ware, and also at Egg Harbor " (Turnbull). It has been found on 

 Crosswicks Creek, Mercer County, New Jersey, on two occasions ; 

 both specimens being procured. 



King-Rail. Rallus elegans. 



King-Rails frequent the " mucky " meadows of my farm every 

 year. In the summer of 1882 my son found the nest of this bird 

 for the first time. It was formed of long, dead grass, with a base 

 of small sticks, and was placed at the foot of a low bush. It con- 

 tained eight eggs, similar in appearance to those of the common 

 Clapper-Rail of our sea-coast. 



Virginia Rail. Rallus Virginianus. 



Very rare along the Delaware River, until the vicinity of salt 

 water is reached, where, in the broader stretches of tide-meadows, 

 it becomes more frequent. 



Sora. Porzana Carolina. 



" Abundant, arriving from the south early in May. About the 

 beginning of August it returns from the north in great numbers, 

 and finally leaves us in October. A few remain to breed during 

 summer " (Turnbull). 



Yellow Rail. Porzana Novceboracensis. 



Quite rare. I have seldom seen more than one or two during 

 the season. 



Florida Gallinule. Gallinula galeata. 



" A very rare summer visitant, from the middle of May to late 

 in October, on the Delaware and Susquehanna" (Turnbull). I 

 have seen but the one specimen in New Jersey, which I procured. 

 It was found on the meadows bordering Crosswicks Creek. 



