28 



ponds of the lower Wabash Valley. It has been reported as breeding from Lake 

 County (Meyer, Toppan, Parker), Starke County (Deane), Knox and Gibson 

 counties (Ridgway), Porter County (Byrkit), Vigo County (Evermann). Mr. 

 Deane, speaking of some observations at English Lake June 10, 1888, says : "Found 

 nest containing four eggs, quite fresh ; nest, a loo e structure of broken cane, float- 

 ing on the water, built about one foot high. A large snapping turtle (C. serpentina 

 (L.) Schweig.) was on the side of the nest, evidently with the intention of capturing 

 the eggs or sitting bird, who was sitting unconcerned." 



Subgenus AHDBTTA Gray. 



*61, Botaurus exilis (OmeL). LEAST BITTERN. 



Regular migrant; generally rare, but locally somewhat common; summer resi- 

 dent in suitable localities, some places common. Has been reported breeding in 

 Lake County. " Breeds plentifully, laying three or four greenish-white eggs in a 

 nest just above the water" (Parker). Has also been reported breeding in same 

 county by Mr. George L. Toppan, Mr. H K. Coale and Mr. L. T. Meyer. Starke 

 County, English Lake, "saw several and found nest built, of loose, dry cane at- 

 tached to the reeds three feet above water," June 10, 1888 (Deane); same locality 

 (Dury); Dekalb County (McBride); Vigo County, "a number breeding May 31, 

 1890" (Evermann). These birds as migrants are noted in April and early May 

 and in September and October. They are very rare in the Whitewater Valley. 

 The account of his observations concerning their habits at breeding time has been 

 very kindly furnished me by Prof. Evermann. He ways: "I first discovered the 

 nests of this bird May 31, 1890, while gathering; water lilies in the pond (Goose 

 Pond, nine miles south of Terre Haute). The water does not, in spring at least, 

 reach a greater depth than three feet in its deeper part?. The center of the pond 

 is filled with water lilies (Nuphar and Nymphcea), which were then in bloom, while 

 in the more shallow water are rank growths of cat-tails, rushes (Equislrum limosum) 

 sedges (Sagittaria), pickerel weed (Ptsltandra undulata), etc. We found on this day 

 twelve nests containing, altogether, forty-three eggs of the Least Bittern. A week 

 later, June 6, I found two more nests containing four and five eggs respectively. 

 I usually found the nest from a few inches to a foot above the water, placed upon 

 a few stems or leaves of the cat-tail, which the bird had evidently bent down and 

 arranged into a very shallow, insecure nest. In a few cases the nests were made 

 of the leaves of Sagittaria or Peltandra, pressed down as were those of the cat-tail. 

 I did not see the bird on the nest in a single case, so watchful and shy are they. 

 IB most cases, however, the bird would rise from the cat-tails and fly away, and I 

 was usually able to find a nest not far from where it arose. I did not find more 

 than five eggs in any set (-5, ^, \, J, ^, i, }, y, T , and | May 31, and J, i June 6), 

 while most sets contained but four. All the eggs taken May 31 were fresh, and no 

 doubt many of these sets containing: but four eggs were not completed." Mr. 

 Blatchley also obtained some eggs from the same pond. 



SUBFAMILY ARDEINJL HERONS AND EGRETS. 



GENUS ARDBA LIXN^US. 

 Subgenus ARDEA. 



2. Ardea wuerdemanni Baird. WURDEMANN'S HERON. 



Accidental visitor. Mr. Ridgway reports positively identifying this species in 

 Knox and Gibson counties in 1876. I know of no other account of its occurrence 

 in the State. 



