88 NOTES ON THE 
about the former as to preclude the possibility of its slipping, 
and into and around about which is built up the whole struct- 
ure consisting thus of coarse, reedy grass, into which are 
woven fine, jointed green grasses, not severed from their roots 
in the submerged ground. But they are not always placed in 
this manner, for it is not unusual to find them directly on the 
ground, on the edge of a floating bog in shallow water, or oc- 
casionally in a sedgy bunch or bush of dwarf willows. The 
nest is loosely built, very little dished, and contains four to 
five white eggs, with a faint wash of green. 
They rear two broods, the last of which is strong enough to 
fly well by the second week in August, and they all quit the 
country by about the fifth of September. Their food consists 
largely of leeches, to which are added lizzards, tadpoles, 
snails and young frogs. I have never found fishes among their 
ingesta, but have too much respect for the taste of the bird to 
doubt that they sometimes constitute a good share of a round 
meal. ; 
Note. The circumstance of my never having met with the 
species for so many years after my residence in the State had 
begun, recalls the fact that only two or three of my volunteer 
assistants and correspondents have mentioned it. Mr. Holz- 
inger, of Winona, says: *‘This bird is little seen, but has recently 
been found breeding around Lake Winona.”’ 
In this place I will say that I have never found the Least 
Bittern breeding in communities. However, I can easily im- 
agine local temporary causes which might impel them to do so, 
and since it is a common thing for them to be closely associated 
with several species of blackbirds and other species of herons 
in their nidification, it seems as if it might be expected that 
they will sometimes be found breeding in communities. 
Their habits are decidedly nocturnal, and their migrations 
are begun and terminated between two days, after the manner 
of another but featherless biped who quits his wonted ‘‘banks”’ 
for more northern latitudes, without the slightest regard for 
seasons. 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Back and head above, dark, glossy green; upper part of 
neck, shoulders, greater coverts, and outer web of some ter- 
tials, purplish-cinnamon; a brownish yellow scapular stripe; 
bill slender, acute, both mandibles about equally curved; legs 
very short; tarsus less than middle toe; inner toe much the 
longest, claws long, acute; tarsi broadly scutellate anteriorly; 
body much compressed; head smooth; occipital feathers some- 
what lengthened: lower neck behind bare of plumage; tail of 
ten feathers. 
Length, 18; wing, 4.75; tarsus, 1.60; bill, about 1.75. 
Habitat, temperate North America. 
