2 2 RiDGWAY on birds observed in Knox Co., Indiana. 



fourteen was met with. When surprised they fly into the swamp, where, 

 alio'hting on the trees, they are secure from pursuit. The inhabitants 

 pay no attention whatever to the game laws, and it is owing entirely to 

 the safe retreat afforded by the swamp that the Turkeys have not been 

 more nearly exterminated. 



Virginia Quail (Or/yx virginiana'). — Almost exterminated by the 

 severe winter of iSSo-Si. 



Green Heron {Butorides virescens). — Abundant. A small colony 

 had their nests in a second-growth thicket, some distance from the swamp. 

 The nests (seven in number) were placed in saplings at 12-15 f^^t from 

 the ground, and, with two exceptions, contained five eggs each. 



Yellow-crowned Night Heron {^Nyctherodius,xnolaceus). — Abundant, 

 a colony of perhaps a hundred pairs having their nests among the tall ash 

 and sweet-gum trees in a creek bottom, near the edge of the pond. The 

 nests were mostly at a considerable height, and few of them readily 

 accessible. They had just begun to lay, and were frightened away from 

 the locality during a " wet .spell" by squirrel hunters. A female was shot 

 from her nest April 27, and a perfect egg cut from her oviduct. Several 

 fine specimens of the bird were secured, and it was noticed that the 

 delicate, almost luminous, yellowish buff of the forehead very soon faded. 



American Woodcock {P/iilo/iela viinor"). — Common, breeding. 



Solitary Sandpiper (^Rhyacophilus solitarius^. — Common, and un- 

 doubtedly breeding, about small ponds in the woods. 



SoRA Rail {Porzana Carolina). — Common among the sedges in the 

 swamp. 



Florida Gallinule {Gallimila galeata). — Probably common in the 

 swamp. A fine specimen with its neck broken was picked up on the 

 railroad track near the depot in Vincennea, having been killed by flying 

 against the telegraph wires. 



American Coot {Fulica americana). — Exceedingly numerous in the 

 swamp during latter half of April and early part of May, but toward the 

 last of the latter month the greate;- part had disappeared. 



Mallard {Anas boscas). — Very numerous at the time of our arrival 

 and for a week or two afterward. A few pairs are said to breed in the 

 swamp. 



Shoveller Duck {Sfafula clypeata). — Much the most numerous of 

 the Ducks at the time of my arrival (April 15). 



Blue-winged Teal {^uerquedula discors). — Abundant, even up to 

 the latter part of May, and undoubtedly breeding. 



Summer Duck {Aix sponsa). — Common and breeding in the swamp. 



Hooded Merganser {Lopkodytcs cucullatus). — More common than 

 A. sponsa, breeding, like that species, in hollow trees in the swamp. 



Thick-billed Grebe {Podilymbus podiccps). — Very common in the 

 swamp, where it was breeding. 



At the time of m^' arrival the Ducks had mostly departed for the North, 

 while the Geese had entirely disappeared. Both had passed the winter in 



