ZOOLOGY BIRDS. 63 



searching in the mud of the sloughs and ponds for its food, which consists of small shells, 

 worms, and even fish. It is often exposed for sale in the California markets. 



ARDEA HERODIAS, Linn .Great Blue Heron. 



Ardea herodias, WILS. Am. Orn. vol. VIII, pi. 65, fig. 2.AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 122, pi. 369. NUTT, Orn. vol. 

 II, p. 42. 



Abundant on all the large water courses and lakes. 



ARDEA VIRESCENS, Linn .Green Heron. 



Ardea virescens, AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 105, pi. 367. WILS. Am. Orn. vol. VII, p. 97, pi. 61, fig. 1. NCTT. Orn. 



vol. II, p. 63. 

 Butorides virescens, BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, G76. 



Abundant. 



ARDEA EGRETTA, G m e 1 i n .Great American Egret. 



Ardea egretta, AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 132, pi. 370. WILS. Am. Orn. vol. VII, p. 106, pi. 61, fig. 4. NUTT. 



Orn. vol. II, p. 47. 

 Herodias egretta, BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, 666. 



They breed in large numbers, associated with other species, on the edges of sloughs and 

 marshes. 



ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, Gmel. Snowy Heron. 



Ardea candidissima,WiLs. Am. Orn. vol. VII, p. 120, pi. 62, fig. 4. AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 163, pi. 374. 



NUTT. Orn. vol. II, p. 49. GMEL. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 633. 

 Garzetta candidissima, BAIKD, Gen. Rep. IX, 665. 



Abundant. 



BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS, Stephens .American Bittern. 



Ardea minor, WILS. Am. Orn. vol. VIII, p. 35, pi. 65, fig. 3. AUD. B. of A. Fol. pi. 337. 

 Ardea lentiginosa, AUD B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 94, pi. 365. NUTT. Orn. vol. II, p. 60. 

 Botaurus lentiginosus, BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, 674. 



Plentiful, frequenting the marshes, where I have often shot from ten to fifteen in a day s 

 hunt. The flesh is very palatable. 



ARDETTA EXILIS, G m e 1 i n .Least Bittern. 



Ardea extiis, GMELIN, Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 645. AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 100, pi. 366. WILS. Am. 



Orn. vol. VIII, p. 37, pi. 65, fig. 4. 

 Ardetta exilis, BAIRD, Gen. Rep. IX, 673. 



Abundant, resorting to the same localities as the preceding species. 



CHARADRIUS VOCIFERUS, Linn . Killdeer Plover. 



Charadrius vociferus, GMEL. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 6S5. AUD. B. of A. Oct. vol. V, p. 207, pi. 317. WILS. Am. 

 Orn. vol. VII, p. 73, pi. 59, fig. 6. 



Abundant in all portions of the country. The traveller is often started by its melancholy 

 cry eve&quot;n on the most barren wastes, where this bird finds an ample supply of insects. 



