20 Scott on Birds observed in Florida . 



At Panasofkee Lake, one of the most numerous and conspic- 

 uous species was the Courlan or Crying Bird (Aramus Rictus) , 

 where its principal food seemed to be the species of snail on which 

 the Everglade Kite preyed, but I did not observe this species at 

 the mouth of the Withlacoochee River and it is unknown to the 

 hunters about Clearwater. There are numerous fresh-water 

 lakes and ponds in the country about Clearwater, notably among 

 which is Lake Butler, a very considerable sheet of water, but 

 frequent visits to such places confirm me in the belief that the 

 Courlan does not obtain in this region now. It is very rapidly 

 becoming exterminated where it was once so abundant. While 

 travelling on the Oclawaha in the winter of 187^-76 I saw it in 

 countless numbers, but going over the same ground in the winter 

 of 1879-S0 I observed less than ten individuals. 



At Clearwater and just south of it. and particularly at points 

 on Old Tampa Bay. I found the Reddish Egret (Ardea rufa) 

 abundant. While most common in the dark plumage, many 

 were noted and some obtained in the white plumage., the so- 

 called Ardea pealii, They began breeding in March and were 

 breeding commonly in April. Mr.» Deyereux obtaining numerous 

 sets of their eggs, varying from four to six in number, This gen- 

 tleman found young in both plumages in the same nest where 

 the parents were both blue birds. 



I was struck during the early part of the breeding season, with 

 the coloration about the bill and face in some of the Herons, and 

 not finding descriptions of the same conditions I append the 

 following: Ardea ccerulea. In this species, in both plumages, 

 I have, in a very large series collected at the three points visited, 

 noted that the iris is light straw color. But a series of twelve 

 individuals collected at Clearwater in a little lake where they had 

 just begun to breed, the date being 20th March, 18S0, the iris 

 was deep lead color and in one case brown or hazel. These are 

 the only individuals of this species that I have taken at just this 

 period, viz., at the beginning of the breeding season, but this is 

 apparently the coloration of the part in question at that season. 



On March 15, at the lower end of Old Tampa Bay, I made 

 the following notes with regard to the coloration of the lores, 

 face, and eves of the Louisiana Heron {Ardea leiicogastra leuco- 

 coprymna). The notes are from twelve individuals freshly killed, 

 and the nesting season had advanced as far as the completion of 



