18 Scott, Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida. [January 
Ardea candidissima, SNowy Hrron.—A common resident and once 
abundant, but it has been so systematically persecuted and destroyed 
that it is yearly becoming more rare. It breeds, according to locality, 
from early in March till late in June. It is particularly difficult to give 
accurate data as to the natural breeding time of this and others of the 
smaller Herons, for they are hunted just during the period of the full per- 
fection of the plumes with such unremitting perseverance by the cruel 
plume hunters that scarcely a ‘rookery, 
+ 
no matter how small, escapes. 
So that the poor survivors of these massacres are constantly seeking new 
nesting grounds, andI have found Herons about Tarpon Springs and 
other points, breeding date zz August, and this species, A. cerulea, 
and A. tricolor ruficollis had fresh eggs as late as the 15th of that month. 
Ardea rufescens. REDDISH EGRET.—Locally this bird is still common. 
The breeding season begins late in March in Old Tampa Bay, and is at 
its height by the middle of April. These birds, so far as I am aware, 
always breed in rookeries where the adjacent waters are salt, and I have 
never seen them frequent the fresh water ponds even to feed. 
Mr. John W. Atkins, of Key West, tells me in a recent letter that the 
dark phase of plumage is the commoner of the two at that locality, though 
he constantly sees the white phase as well, and he believes the birds breed 
on the islands. For further remarks on this species the reader is referred 
to ‘The Auk,’ April, 1888, p. 184. I am indebted to a friend in this 
locality for the information that this species in its dark phase still breeds 
in numbers at rookeries at St. Martin’s Keys, about forty-five miles north 
of Tarpon Springs, in the Gulf. 
Ardea tricolor ruficollis. Lours1aNA Hrron.—The most common of 
all the Herons, frequenting both salt and fresh water. The breeding 
season begins about the same time of the year as the last. 
Ardea cerulea. LirrLeE BLuE HeEron.—Still a common species. 
Frequents both fresh and salt water, but there seems to be a preference 
for the former. Breeds in the vicinity of Tarpon Springs from early in 
April to late in August. See, in this connection, the remarks on the 
breeding of A. canxd¢dzssima, which also refer to this species. 
Ardea virescens. GREEN HERON.—Common, but not so gregarious as 
the several preceding species. Resident and breeds, generally in the 
vicinity of fresh water ponds. Breeds from late in April to July, in the 
vicinity of Tarpon Springs. 
Nycticorax nycticorax nzevius. BLACK-cROWNED NicHur HErRon.— 
Rather common resident, and some breed. 
Nycticorax violaceus. YELLOW-CROWNED NicHr Hrron.—Common 
locally. Breeds in May and June about Tarpon Springs. 
[Zo be continued. | 
