94 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS EGGS. 



They do not breed in colonies, generally but one or two pairs nesting in one 

 marsh. Data. Worcester, Mass., June 3, 1897. Four eggs laid in a grass lined 

 hollow in middle of a hummock of earth and grass, in middle of marsh. Col- 

 lector, James Jackson. 



91. Least Bittern. Ardetta exilis. 



Range. Common throughout the United States, especially in the eastern 

 parts, and in the southern British provinces. 



This small variety of Bittern is very common in the southern portions of the 

 United States, but less so and locally distributed in the 

 northern portions of its range. They are very quiet 

 and sly birds, and their presence is often unsuspected 

 when they are really quite abundant. When approach- 

 ed, they will remain perfectly quiet, with the body 

 erect and the head and neck pointed skyward, in which 

 position their yellowish brown plumage strongly 

 resembles the rushes among which they are found. 

 Their nests are made of strips of rushes woven about 



/ upright stalks, generally over water. They lay from 



rpflip hini^h whitp i three to five eggs of a pale bluish white color. Size 

 1.20 x. 90. Data.-Avery's Island, La., May 1, 1896. 



Four eggs. Nest of strips of rushes woven together to form a platform and 

 fastened to saw grass growing on the bank of a stream. Collector, E. A. 

 Mcllhenny. 



91.1. Cory Least Bittern. Ardetta neoxena. 



This rare species, of which about twenty specimens are known is probably 

 resident in Florida, wandering north in the summer, specimens having been 

 taken in Ontario, Canada, and in several localities in eastern United States. It 

 is very different from the Least Bittern, having a more uniform chestnut color- 

 ation, especially on the under parts. It is twelve inches in length. Mr. C. W. 

 Crandall has a set of five eggs of this species, taken on the Caloosahatchee River, 

 Fla., April 15, 1891, by S. B. Ladd. Nest was made of grasses and rushes placed 

 in the cane two feet above the water. 



192. Great White Heron. Ardeaoccidentalis. 



Range. This species occurs in the United States regularly, only in the 

 southern parts of Florida. It is a resident of the West Indies. 



This large white Heron is about the same size as the Great Blue Heron; it has 

 none of the slender plumes found on thesmaller White Herons. These birds are 

 not uncommon in southern Florida, especially on the Keys, where they build 

 their nests in company with Great Blue Herons. Their nesting habits and eggs 



