No. 4.] DECREASE OF BIEDS. 461 



them protection was no doubt necessary to their preserva- 

 tion, as their size alone dooms them to constant persecution. 



The least bittern keeps very closely hidden in the mead- 

 ows or swamps and is seldom seen by the ordinary observer. 

 While it probably has been driven out of many localities by 

 the draining of meadows, I hear its note in suitable places 

 quite as often as I did when a boy. 



The green heron has grown less common where boys or 

 foreigners do much shooting ; elsewhere it probably does not 

 vary much in numbers, except where the trees or shrubs in 

 which it breeds are cut away. In the localities which I 

 have frequented this year, however, it has been less com- 

 mon than usual. 



The American bittern was driven out of many of its 

 breeding places last year. Breeding birds have disappeared 

 from a certain locality in "Wareham where they were for- 

 merly seen. This was probably due to shooting. On the 

 other hand, they were more common along the river in 

 Concord this year than last. On the whole, the bittern 

 seems to be holding its own fairly well, excepting near the 

 cities. 



The great blue heron no doubt formerly bred abundantly 

 in some localities in Massachusetts. In September, 1874, 

 I saw what seemed to be a nest of this species in North 

 Brookfield ; but I know of no recent record of its breeding 

 in the State, and it was probably driven out long ago.* It 

 visits us regularly in the migrations, and takes care of itself 

 so well that few except immature birds are shot. In my 

 own experience this species has not diminished greatly of 

 late, but I saw fewer birds this year than last. Many other 

 observers, however, are very positive that the great blue 

 heron is steadily diminishing in numbers, despite the law 

 recently enacted protecting all herons at all times in Massa- 

 chusetts. Mr. Gerry says they are few along the coast, in 

 comparison with the numbers formerly seen. About thirty 

 years ago he saw between thirty and forty at once feeding 

 at Wellfleet. 



* Since the above was written I have heen told by Mr. J. A. Farley that a 

 single nest of this species has been found recently in the State by Mr. C. E. Bailey. 



