AVES. 55 



HERODIONES. HERODIL 



ARDEIDAE. 



105. BOTAURUS LENTIGINOSUS (Montagu) Stephens. 



American bittern; Bog hen; Indian hen; Meadow hen; Stake 

 driver; Thunder pump. 



Ardea lentiginosa Montag., Ornith. diet., suppl., 1813, [p. 186] 

 "Her." "THE WEST OF ENGLAND." Audubon, Birds of Amer., 

 1843, vol. 6, p. 94, pi. 365. Egg, Capen, 1886, pi. 19, fig. 14. 



Fresh and salt marshes and borders of streams; nests on ground. 



ME. Uncommon migrant and summer resident. April 27- 

 Oct. 28. Eggs, late May-June 6. 



N. H. Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Mar .-Nov. 

 (Dec. 11). Eggs, May 27. 



VT. Uncommon migrant and summer resident. April 30-fall. 



MASS. Common migrant and less common summer resident; 

 casual in winter. Mar. 31-Nov. 26 (Dec. 30; Jan. 5). Eggs, 

 May 5- June 10. 



R. I. Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. 

 April 6-Nov. 10. Eggs, May 23-June 13. 



CONN. Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. 

 April-Nov. 



106. IXOBRYCHUS EXILIS (Gmelin) A. O. U. comm. 



Least bittern. 



Ardea exilis Gmel., Syst. nat., 1788, vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 645. "JA- 

 MAICA." Audubon, Birds of Amer., 1843, vol. 6, p. 100, pi. 366. 

 Egg, Capen, 1886, pi. 19, fig. 15. 



Fresh marshes and swamps; nests among rushes or in bushes. 



ME. Rare summer resident in southern counties. (Mar. 4, 

 1891, Georgetown) May 12-Aug. (Nov. 13). 



N. H. Rare in summer; may breed in southeastern part: Hamp- 

 ton; Hampton Beach, 1869; Seabrook. 



VT. Said to have occurred "formerly." 



