76 BIRDS OF THE HUDSON HIGHLANDS ; 



No. 2,172, $ ad., December 12, 1880, Consook Island, Hudson River, 

 N. Y., E. A. M. : length, 47-50; stretch, 74-00; wing, 18-55; tail, 7-50; 

 length from tip of bill to end of toes, 63-00; culmeu, 5-80; gape, 

 7'35; bare part of tibia, 4-95; tarsus, '7-30; middle toe and claw, 5-10; 

 middle toe alone, 4-45 ; its claw, -70. 



151. Herodias alba egretta, Gmelin. AMERICAN EGRET. A 

 summer visitant. Observed at Cornwall, and at Cold Spring, in the 

 Highlands. A specimen was shot at Yonkers, N. Y., in autumn, 

 several years ago. Dr. A. K. Fisher recorded (Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, 

 Vol. IV, No. 1, p. 62) its capture at Sing Sing, on the Hudson; he 

 also informed me verbally of one shot near Newburgh, N. Y., doubt- 

 less of this species, although not personally examined. 



152. Butorides virescens, Linne. GRKEN HERON. An abun- 

 dant summer resident; breeds plentifully. Arrives about the last of 

 April (27, 1873; May 22, 1874; 3,1875; 3,1876; 7,1877; April 22, 

 1878; May 15, 1879; 13, 1880; 11, 1881), and departs in October. 



The Green Heron builds its nest early in May. Its eggs are com- 

 monly deposited during the third week, although I have found them 

 in June, and even July (4, 1872). It occupies the old nest season 

 after season. Its eggs vary in number from four to six. On May 

 22, -1878, I found a very pretty nest, built in a festoon of grape-vine, 

 swinging free over a pool in a swamp. The eggs were six in number, 

 and incubation was considerably advanced. 



Dimensions. Average measurements of five females: length, 17-75; 

 stretch, 26-75; wing, 7-19; tail, 3-00; culmen, 2-28; tarsus, 2-00; 

 middle toe, 2-06; its claw, .34. 



153. Nyctiardea grisea nsevia, Boddaert. NIGHT HERON. 

 A summer resident; breeds. 



The Night Herons have established several breeding-places along 

 the Hudson Eiver. One of them is located in a large swamp of maple 

 and birch saplings, with occasional large maples and groups of tall 

 pine-trees, on Constitution Island, in the Hudson River. Dr. F. D. 

 Lente, of Cold Spring, first informed me of its existence, in the spring 

 of 1873. I first visited the Heronry on June 4th. After proceeding 

 a little way into the swamp, we were startled by the loud "squawking" 

 and flapping of the Herons ; and we immediately discovered a large 

 number of their nests. As we advanced, every limb and crotch that 

 was at all adapted to hold a nest was occupied. The birds were flying 

 wildly about, and the air was filled with their discordant croaking. 

 Now and then a sound like the barking of a dog was heard. We were 

 astonished at the number of birds and nests, but were rather late for 

 collecting the eggs, as the nests nearly all contained young, or eggs 

 nearly hatched. The Herons offered no resistance when their nests 

 were being pillaged, but sat around in trees at a short distance. We 



