BIRDS. 279 



10. Aix sponsa. Wood cluck. — Michigan: Common summer resi- 

 dent, breeding in suitable localities throughout the state. 



This species was seen in flocks at Rush Lake on August 10. Three 

 were also seen on Turtle Bay on Sand Point on August 22, and on the 

 same date we saw one on Long Lake. The birds seen at Rush Lake 

 were no doubt raised in the vicinity as the young were not fully 

 feathered. The crop and stomach of one was full of the tubers of 

 Potamogetan, and one taken in Turtle Bay on Sand Point had eaten 

 many flowers of wild rice. One of the residents near Rush Lake 

 said that he had found the nest of this species in that vicinity. 



11. Botaurus lentiginosus. American bittern. — Michigan: Com- 

 mon summer resident ; breeds throughout the state. 



This species was seen on Sand Point, at Rush Lake and on Stony 

 Island. The species was common 'throughout the region. We found 

 an adult female and one young bird nearly feathered on the grassy 

 prairie near the base of the Point, on July 8. It also bred on Stony 

 Island, where an adult was seen on July 13, and two voung on Julv 

 14. (PL XVIII a.) 



12. Ardea herodias. Great blue heron. — Michigan: Common 

 summer resident ; breeds all over the state in colonies. 



This bird is a rather common one in the sand region, and specimens 

 were seen at various times between Sand Point and Rush Lake, and 

 on Stony Island. We frequently saw them fly out to the fish pounds 

 and alight on the stakes where they watched for fish. When the latter 

 came near the surface, a ciuick stroke with the herons bill either killed 

 or disabled it, so that it could be eaten or carried to the young in the 

 nest. They often killed fish of a pound weight, and we saw them 

 make regular excursions to these pounds for fish. We also saw them 

 wading in the grassy marshes near the west end of the Point, and they 

 must have lired somewhere in the vicinity. 



13. Butorides virescens. Green heron. — Michigan: Common 

 summer resident: breeds in all suitable localities throughout the 

 state. 



One was seen on Sand Point (July 10) and one at Rush lake (Au- 

 gust 10). No nests were found, as the swamps where they breed 

 were inaccessable in early summer on account of high water and 

 myriads of mosciuitoes. The one seen at Sand Point was flying along 

 the south shore. 



14. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned night heron. — 

 Michigan: Rare summer resident: doubtless breeds. 



This bird was seen as follows: one on Sand Point on June 22 and 



♦Arnold, Edward, Bull. Mich. Ornith. Club, Vol. IV, y. 71. 



