54 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



possession a specimen of the White Ibis (Guara alba) family Ibididcn, 

 which is said to have been captured in Pennsylvania about thirty years 

 ag-o. In the museum at Lancaster city, there is a specimen of the 

 Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaja ajajd) family Plataleidce, which it is stated 

 was captured over twenty-five years ago in Lancaster county. As none 

 of these three species have, so far as I can learn, been observed in Penn- 

 sylvania during the past quarter of a century, I do not consider that 

 any of them are entitled to a place in this report. 



SUBORDER HERODIL HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS, ETC. 

 FAMILY ARDEID^E. HERONS, BITTERNS, EGRETS. 



THE HERONS, ETC. 



Birds oi this family containing, it is said, about seventy-five species are very 

 generally dispersed throughout all parts of the globe. A few species wander to cold 

 countries, but the great majority of these waders inhabit the lower temperate and 

 tropical regions. In different localities throughout the United States, about fifteen 

 species and varieties (local or geographical races) are recorded by modern writers ; 

 of these nine species have been taken, during recent years, in Pennsylvania. Some 

 species occur with us as regular summer residents, while others are observed here 

 only as transitory visitors in the spring and fall migrations. These birds frequent 

 muddy banks of rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds ; they are also found about swampy 

 meadows and marshy places, particularly if the latter are well supplied with pools 

 of shallow water, protected by trees or bushes. They often remain quiet or inactive 

 in daytime, but as evening approaches, or in the night, they go out, like the owls, 

 in quest of food, which is secured by rapid, dexterous thrusts of their long, spear- 

 like bills. Birds of this group subsist chiefly on various kinds of fishes (fish meas- 

 uring nearly a foot in length are often swallowed by large herons), frogs and snakes ; 

 and they also eat other kinds of animal food, such as large insects, field-mice, lizards, 

 cray-fish, leeches, etc., and some of the larger herons occasionally catch wood-rats, 

 and young birds of other species which breed about their favorite feeding resorts 

 With the exception of the Bitterns, these birds are gregarious, particularly when 

 breeding, and in the southern states where herons and egrets are abundant, they 

 often breed together in great numbers, frequently in company with cormorants, 

 water turkeys and ibises. The herons and egrets build rude and bulky nests of 

 sticks and twigs, in trees or bushes ; the bluish or greenish colored and unspotted 

 eggs vary from two to six in number. The sharp, rasping cries of these birds, are 

 often uttered when feeding, also if they are frightened, and frequently when flying, 

 either when migrating or when going to and from their feeding places. Birds of 

 this family are known by the following characters : Long neck and legs ; bill long, 

 straight, tapering, acute and furnished with sharp cutting edges. Lores naked and 

 usually, particularly in the breeding season, bright colored ; the head is rather long, 

 narrow and flat on the sides. When breeding these birds frequently have back of 

 head, the lower neck, back or scapulars, beautifully ornamented with long plumes. 

 Herons and egrets have three pairs of powder-down tracts, one on lower part of back, 

 the second on lower belly, and a third on breast. Bitterns have two pairs of these 

 tracts, one on lower back, the other on breast ; toes long and slender ; the claws are 

 long and curved, especially that of hind toe, and the middle claw has a fine comb 

 on inner edge. The hind toe is inserted on a level with three in front ; outer toes 

 usually connected with middle by a small web at base, others free. Tail very short, 

 twelve feathers, except in bitterns, which have only ten. 



