418 REED-WRIGHT— THE VERTEBRATES OF [October i, 



and continues for the rest of the month. Young in the nest are 

 found from the first to the middle of June. They depart for the 

 south the first of November. 



156 (191). Ixobrychus exilis (Gmehn). Least bittern. 

 Common summer resident. The average date of spring arrival 



is May 15, the earliest May 9, 1908. The active period of nesting 

 extends from May 20 to June 10. Young are found in the nest 

 from about June 8 to June 25. We have no records of this species 

 in the fall later than September 10. 



157 (194). Ardea herodias Linnaeus. Great blue heron. 

 Common spring and fall transient and summer resident at Mer- 

 idian, N. Y., at the north end of the basin. The average date of 

 spring arrival is March 28, the earliest, March 18, 1890. Li the 

 fall they appear at the south end of the basin the last of July, the 

 earliest record being a specimen taken July 18, 1889, by L. A. 

 Fuertes. We have no records indicating that this species remains 

 after November i. 



158 (196). Herodias egretta (Gmelin). Egret. 



This species was recorded in 1854 by William Hopkins. Foster 

 Parker has in his collection a specimen shot at Cayuga but without 

 record or recollection of date. 



159 (201). Butorides virescens (Linnseus). Green heron. 

 Common summer resident. The average date of spring arrival 



is May 2, the earliest, April 18, 1906. Nesting begins about May 

 10 and continues until the middle of July. On July 11, 1906, four 

 nests were found, one containing four eggs and the others, young 

 birds which left the nest upon approach. This species leaves in the 

 fall about the last of September, tlie latest record being October 2, 

 1902. 



160 (202). Nycticorax nycticorax nsevius (Boddaert). Black- 

 crowned night heron. 



Never common but a regular spring and fall migrant. In the 

 former season our records extend from May 11 to June 2, in the 

 latter from July 14 to October 29. 



