274 ARDEID^E : HERONS. 



rare in the Alleghanian. The older New England lists 

 usually present it as a rare bird, and so it is ordinarily 

 taken to be ; but, however the case may formerly have 

 been, the bird is certainly no rarity now in the Alle- 

 ghanian Fauna. Prof. Verrill's list notes its presence 

 in Southern Maine (Pr. Essex Inst., iii, 1862, p. 157), and 

 it has lately been traced to New Brunswick (Chamberlain, 

 Bull. Nutt. Club, vii, 1882, p. 105), five individuals 

 having been taken between the spring of 1877 and the 

 fall of 1880 on the Bay of Fundy shore, about ten miles 

 east of St. John. (See Orn. and Ool., vii, 1882, p. no.) 



The manner of the bird's presence in Connecticut has 

 been carefully noted by Dr. Merriam, who says that 

 " the Least Bittern seems to be at present a pretty 

 regular summer resident, though formerly regarded as 

 an accidental visitor. Linsley gave it from Northford, 

 Conn., without comment. It has certainly bred here 

 for several years past, and on June 27, 1876, Mr. 

 Nichols found its nest at Bradford, Conn., containing 

 one fresh egg. Have seen it in September. They were 

 particularly abundant throughout the State during the 

 season of 1875. Mr. W. W. Coe, who has seven beauti- 

 ful specimens in his cabinet, showed me five eggs which 

 he took from a nest at Portland, Conn., June 14, 1873, 

 and says that they breed regularly in that vicinity. 

 Mr. Geo. Bird Grinnell also tells me that he takes two 

 or three every year (generally in August or September). 

 They follow up the Connecticut Valley to Massachu- 

 setts." (Rev. B. Conn., 1877, p. 113.) 



The Least Bittern has even been found with us in 

 winter. Mr. Jencks adduces such an instance, one 

 having been known in Rhode Island, Feb. 28, 1881 (Orn. 

 and Ool., vi, 1881, p. 6). 



