60 



trees, when I did not have much difficulty in procuring several speci- 

 mens. Those killed early in the morning were so gorged that when 

 they fell the fish would protrude from their bills, and they presented 

 a most filthy appearance. One specimen, which was brought down 

 with a broken wing, fought viciously, making a spirited but ineffectual 

 charge when approached. These birds are known to many of the 

 inhabitants as " Black- winged Pelicans." I was informed that they 

 made their appearance in large numbers every year about the first of 

 August, and remained until the last of September. 



Family ARDEIDJE. 

 Genus Ardea Linn. 



71. A. herodias Linn. GKEAT BLUE HERON. Common about the 

 lagoons. 



72. A. egretta Gm. WHITE HERON. Very numerous about 

 streams and lagoons. 



73. A. cserulea Linn. LITTLE BLUE HERON. Exceedingly abun- 

 dant everywhere through the bottoms along streams and about lagoons 

 and ponds. Not a pool was visited in the bottoms that did not have 

 from one to a dozen of these birds about it, and along the Cache Kiver 

 they were found by hundreds, and they were equally abundant about 

 all the larger bodies of water. During the day the various species 

 of herons were generally distributed through the bottoms, but towards 

 evening they commenced passing toward a common roosting place, 

 which was in a large opening in the Mississippi bottoms about six 

 miles from Cairo, known as the "deadening." At first, about an hour 

 before sunset, a few straggling parties would be seen passing over and 

 just before sunset they were flying in full force, often a dozen. or more 

 flocks, numbering from two or three to fifty or more individuals, could 

 be seen at once. Often one of the larger species would start alone 

 and be joined by small parties of the little blue and snowy herons 

 until quite a company was formed. 



74. A. candidissima Jacquin. SNOWY HERON. Far less numer- 

 ous than the preceding. Found in the same locations. 



75. A. rufa Bodd. EEDDISH EGRET. This species was quite com- 

 mon about the borders of lagoons and open marshy situations. They 

 were exceedingly.shy aad rather solitary, being generally found away 

 from the other species and when startled from a feeding place, instead 

 of going off in company with the others, they usually took another 

 direction. 



76. A. virescens Linn. GREEN HERON. Numerous along the 

 Cache and about lagoons. 



