Oct. 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



151 



ease. The Great Blue Heron formerly nested in 

 our county in abundance, but lias been driven 

 awajf by the fnsilade from ambitious gunners, who 

 in their anxiety to bag something, shoot every- 

 thing. The nests are generally built in gigantic 

 Sycamores, and are not easy of access. One hun- 

 dred nests is not unusual in one heronry. 



167. [489.] Herodias alba egretta (Gmel.) 

 Hidgw. American Egret. A rare accidental 

 Summer visitor. Very shy, and not often cap- 

 lured. A few are seen every season. 



168. [490.] Qarzetta candidissima (Gmel.) Bp. 

 Snowy Heron. A rare accidental visitor during 

 June, .July and August. Does not breed. Ir- 

 regular in appearance. 



169. [494] Btitorides virescena (Linn.) Bp. 

 Green Heron. Not a rare species. Not often 

 found nesting, however. Breeds in small colonies, 

 placing the nests on low bu.shes and trees. Can 

 not assert as to the arrival or departure of this bird. 



ITO. [497.] Botnurus Icntiginosus (Montag.) 

 Steph. American Bittern. A common species on 

 our marshes from April 1.5th to September 30th. 

 Arrives as early as April 5th some seasons, and 

 often remains until October 10th. A peculiar 

 species, known to many persons living in the 

 country as thunder pumper, and also as plum jyiid- 

 ding, from its peculiar notes. The nests are diffi- 

 cult to discover. Does not build in colonies. 



171. [498.] Ardetta exilis (Gmel.) Gray. Least 

 Bittern. Not rare at Gull Lake, where about 

 thirty nests have been discovered within the last 

 four years. The species breed in scattered colo- 

 nies, a few nests being found irregularly situated 

 over a stretch of lake edge marsh eighty rods in 

 length. A very interesting little bird and ex- 

 tremely odd in many of its habits. It appears so 

 stupid at times that it is caught with the hand as 

 it moves through the grass. 



173. [.509.] Strepmlas iiitcrprcs (Linn.) Illig. 

 Turnstone. A rare, irregular migrant, captured 

 only a few times around the edges of the lakes. 

 Taken once as late as May 30th, showing it to be 

 a late migrant in Spring. 



173. [513.] Sqwttarola helvetica (Linn.) Cuv. 

 Black-bellied Plover. A rare, irregular species 

 in its migrations. Only a few captures recorded. 

 Once taken as late as October 39th. Usually ap- 

 pears in small flocks on shores of lakes. 



174. [514.] Charadrius dominicus Mull. 

 American Golden Plover. A common transient 

 in the Autumn, but rarely if ever seen in the 

 vernal migrations. Often seen in large flocks. 

 Have secured a great number at a single shot. 

 Reaches us from the north in early September ; 

 remains till late October. Most abundant about 

 September 38th, as a rule. 



17.5. [516.] Oxyechus vociferiis (Linn.) Reich. 

 Killdeer. An abundant species from March 30lli 

 to November 1st. Arrives as early as Feb. 30th 

 open seasons, but generally about March 5th to 

 lOlh. Occasionally does not depart until late De- 

 cember, if the shores of the lakes are still un- 

 frozen. Nests abundantly in stony fields, pasture 

 lots and plowed lands. Eggs usually laid in late 

 April, often by April 10th, however. 



176. [517.] Aegiiditcs semipcdmatus Bonap. 

 Semipalmated Plover. A common migrant. Ap- 

 pearing about May lOtli from the South, and 

 often remaining in abundance until May 25th. 

 Again appears August 10th and becomes common 

 by the 30th of the month, often remaining until 

 September 30th or later. 



177. [525.] Philokela minor (Gm.) Gray. 

 American Woodcock. Abundant Summer resi- 

 dent, but not usually so common as formerly. 

 Once bred in numbers in our partially open 

 woods on low grounds, but too much breaking of 

 the law, combined with poorly constructed and 

 too early laws have thinned them badly. Usually 

 appears in early March, but often in late February 

 in open seasons. Has been taken in all the 

 Winter months. Breeds from April lOlh to July 

 10th, and I have seen young birds unable to fly 

 July 30th, which suggests consideration of the 

 present August 1st law. Depart in Octolier 

 usually, but a few often remain until Nov. 15th. 



178. [526((.] Oidlinago media irilmni (Temm.) 

 Ridgw. Wilson's Snipe. An abundant species 

 two months of the year, from April 10th to Maj' 

 1st, and from September 10th to October 20th. 

 They first appear in late February some seasons 

 and remain until May 20th, or even later before 

 passing north to breed. The first arrivals' from 

 the north are seen as early as July 25th, and the 

 last to leave us are found until Nov. 20th, fre- 

 quently. The birds are taken throughout the 

 Winter in small numbers during very mild sea- 

 sons. A few Summer residents are found each 

 year, but the birds have been found breeding but 

 once. 



179. [527.] Macrurhamphiis griseus (Gmel.) 

 Leach. Red-breasted Snipe; Gray Snipe. I have 

 met this species but once. A small flock was ob- 

 served on May 31st and 33d, 1878, on the edge of 

 a small lake. Tlie flight is peculiar and well 

 marked, and once seen will be remembered. But 

 few captures have occurred. A migrant. 



180. [534.] Actodromas mnculata (Vieill.) 

 Cones. Pectoral Sandpiper ; Grass Snipe. Have 

 secured specimens both Spring and Autumn. It 

 is not a rare species, but is decidedly irregular in 

 its appearance. Only transient. 



