Sbe TOarbler u 5 



large sticks as a base, smaller ones toward the top, and a few twigs with 

 green leaves, and some grass as a lining. 



The first colony visited the past season was on Feb. 4th. This con- 

 tained eight nests, mostly in course of construction, only one set of eggs beino- 

 taken. The second colony, one mile from this, contained twelve nests; five of 

 these had full sets of eggs, six others had young birds varying in ao-e from 

 newly hatched to two nests in which the birds were nearly full grown — 

 able to leave the nest and walk off at my approach. One nest was in course 

 of construction. 



The third and largest colony I visited on Feb. 10th, six days later. In 

 this were some thirty nests, only four of which contained eggs, all the others 

 having hatched. The young here were of all ages, about a fourth being 

 nearly grown. 



The number of eggs laid is usually three, about 8 per cent, of the nests con- 

 taining either four eggs or young; and after the young are one-third grown they 

 are usually reduced to two, as that seems to be about all there is room for 

 at this stage, and the weaker ones are crowded out. I have seen many 

 a dead young one suspended by the neck, the head being held between 

 sticks of the nest. 



The only theory that I can advance for the unseasonable time for this 

 Heron's nesting is that they wish to escape annoyance from the multitude 

 of Iyittle Blue and Louisiana Herons that occupy the same nesting sites along 

 about the first of April. 



