DESCRIPTIVE LIST 97 



Among the interesting forms of wild life inhabiting the fresh-water marshes, no 

 bird is more weirdly fascinating than the Least Bittern. It haunts the rushes and 

 cattails, and there constructs a frail nest but a few feet above the water. The young 

 soon acquire great dexterity in climbing among the stems of the water-plants and 

 few sights are more surprising than that of a young Least Bittern, erect and motion- 

 less, clinging to the stalk of a bullrush, with its long neck extended and bill pointing 

 skyward. This is the attitude usually assumed upon the approach of an intruder, 

 and so slender is its figure, and so well do the markings of the throat and breast 

 blend with its environment, that one may readily pass without observing it. 

 Upon taking wing, its flight is at first laborious and ungainly in the extreme. If, 

 however, necessity requires that its journey be prolonged, the long legs are elevated 

 to a plane with its body and the wing-strokes become rapid and graceful. 



FIG. 62. LEAST BITTEKN. 



These birds have been seen in limited numbers in various districts. H. H. and 

 C. S. Brimley have found them frequently at Raleigh from May to September, 

 where they breed rather commonly in May and June. They are summer residents 

 in the marshes of Lake Ellis. Cairns took only two specimens in Buncombe County 

 during many years of observation, which indicates that it is a rare bird in our 

 mountains. This may, perhaps, be accounted for by the infrequency with which 

 marshes are found in that territory. 



Cory's Least Bittern, Ixobrychus neoxenus (Cory), which has the under tail-coverts always 

 black, is known to breed near Toronto in Canada, and in southern Florida, and hence is liable 

 to be found during the migrations at any intermediate point. It is much darker than the 

 Least Bittern, but quite variable. 



Genus Ardea (Linn.) 

 79. Ardea herodias herodias (Linn.). GREAT BLUE HERON. 



Ads. in breeding plumage. -Center of crown and throat white, sides of crown black, this 

 color meeting on back of head, where the feathers are lengthened to form an occipital crest; 

 neck pale grayish brown, a narrow black, white, and ochraceous line down the middle of the 

 foreneck; feathers of lower foreneck narrow and much lengthened, whitish with sometimes 

 black streaks; back, wing-coverts, and tail slaty gray, the scapulars paler, narrow and much 

 lengthened; bend of wing chestnut-rufous; a patch of black and white feathers on side of breast; 

 breast and belly streaked with black and white and sometimes pale rufous; feathers on legs 

 dull rufous, legs and feet black; upper mandible olive-yellow, the culmen blackish; lower man- 

 dible yellow; lores blue. 1m. Similar, but entire crown black, throat white, neck brownish 

 gray washed with buffy ochraceous; no black at sides of the breast or plumes on the lower 

 neck; underparts streaked with black, slaty, white and ochraceous; bend of wings and feathers 

 on legs paler; back slaty grayish brown without lengthened plumes. "L., 42.00-50.00; W., 

 17.90-19.85; B., 4.30-6.25; Tar., 6.00-8.00" (Ridgw.). (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



