12 



birds were noted in the breeding season as late as 1396 



(S. Brown), and it has been seen several times in the 



summer during the last ten years by Richard P. Miller 



about Philadelphia. Near Pittston it bred regularly in a 



swamp along the Susquehanna River, and a pair Is still re- 

 reports 

 ported as breeding £n an island below Mehoopany. Various A 



have reached me of their breeding within the last few 



years, but the faot that no nests have actually been 



found will testify to their rarity. 



190. Botaurus lentiginosus ( Montag .) . American Bittern. 



The Americam Bittern occurs frequently in Penn- 

 sylvania during the spring and fall migrations, arriving 

 about April 25 and leaving during the last week of October. 

 It should be called rare as a nester, tho it breeds regular- 

 ly in a number of counties. Dr. Detwiler has recorded a 

 nest and eggs from near Bethlehem, Pa., but since he has 

 made a number of questionable assertions, his data is dis- 

 regarded. In the marshes along the Susquehanna River near 

 Marietta and Lebanon, the Bittern seems to be a ,i^gular 

 tho scarce breeder (Warren's Report). More recently, I 

 have observed the Bittern in the breeding season in 

 Huntingdon and Center Counties, while Mr. R. B, Simpson 

 tells me they breed regularly on the marshes along Lake 

 Erie and probably in other restricted localities. No sets 

 of eggs seem to be recorded, but the evidence that the 



