VICTORIA, B. C. 33 



ORDER HERODIONES. HERONS, IBISES, Etc. 



FAMILY IHIDIDJE. IBISKS. 

 PLE<;AI>IS. (Kaup.) 



White-faced Glossy Ibis (Pleyadis yuuraunu, Linn). 



Only two specimens known to be taken in the Province; one at 

 Sardis, B. C., the other at mouth of Fraser River. 



FAMILY ARDKTILE. HERONS AND BITTERNS. 



BOTA URUS. ( Hermann . ) 



American Bittern (Kotunrns laitiyinosus, Montag). 



\\'lien the Bittern is disturbed at his meditation he gives a vigor- 

 ous spring, croaks at the moment in a manner highly expressive of 

 his disgust, and flies off as fast as he can, though in rather a loose, 

 lumbering way. He is very easily shot on the wing. Easily hit 

 and dropping at a touch, even of fine shot. When winged he croaks 

 painfully as he drops, and no sooner does he touch the ground than 

 he gathers himself in defensive attitude to resent aggression as best 

 he can. He fights well, and with more spirit and determination 

 than he might be expected to show. He has a very ugly way of 

 pointing his resistance with quick thrusts of his spear-like bill, 

 capable of inflicting no slight wound on an incautious hand. It is 

 common throughout the greater portion of the Province. Breeds 

 both east and west of Cascades. 



ARDEA. (Linnaeus). 



Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias, Linn). 



Wherever placed, on tree, bush or rock, the nest of the Heron is 

 a large bed of twigs, more or less matted together with grasses and 

 weeds, some two feet in diameter and about one-third as high. Two 

 or three eggs are laid, they measure 2.50 by 1.50, and are rather 

 narrowly elliptical, with both ends of about the same shape; the 

 colour is a pale, dull, greenish-blue, varying in shade in different 

 specimens, not always uniform over the same eggs. It is a common 

 resident on the Coast and is quite common at Sumas Lake and 

 Okanagan. Breeds throughout its range. 



