SENNETT ON BIEDS OF THE ElO GRANDE OF TEXAS. 61 



Florida ccerulea, {L.) Bd. — Little Blue Heron. 



I shot a single specimen of this species a few miles from Brownsville, 

 and only saw two or three others in the same locality. 



107— $ —23.50 X 41.00 x 11.50 x 4.50. Mar. 29, Brownsville. 



il^YCTiARDEA N^viA, {Bodd.) Allen. — Mght Heron. 



Heard at night, as we were going down the coast, but not seen until 

 we came upon the heronry in the salt-marshes between Brownsville 

 and the coast. There I found it breeding, not in such numbers as oth- 

 ers of the family, but still common. The nests were bulky affairs, com- 

 posed of the dead rushes, and placed near the water on broken-down 

 and living rushes. Nearly all contained young, but 1 secured a set of 

 three very fresh eggs. The old birds were exceedingly noisy and bold, 

 and the young pugnacious from their exit from the eggs. They had no 

 idea of leaving the nest at my approach, but, instead, would strike out 

 at my hands, and, even when caught, would not cease to fight. Their 

 nests were more tilthy than the others; the young are half-saked, and a 

 miserable, vagabond-looking set they are. The usual number of eggs is 

 four. Their color is bluish-white and shape very broadly oval. Their 

 average size is 1.94 by 1.52. 



Nyctherodius violaceus, [L.) Eeich. — Yellow-crowned Niglit Heron. 



Several were observed in swamps and thickets on Nueces Bay, near 

 Corpus Christi, on the 8th of March. None were obtained, however, 

 as they were shy and the thickets too difficult to penetrate. 



Ardetta exilis, {Gm.) Gr. — Least Bittern. 



Occasionally seen about the marshes. I shot one and saw others at 

 the great heronry, near Brownsville, on May 16th. I did not find its nest, 

 but I am confident it breeds there. 



438—^—14.25 X 18.25 x 4.60 x 1.90. May 16, Brownsville. 



Grtjs AMERICANA, (L,) Ord. — White Crane. 



I frequently saw these noble birds of the prairies feeding in the 

 lagoons, as we went down the coast, and in the wet places about 

 Brownsville, up to about April 1st. They were always in pairs, and, as 

 usual, very shy. 



RALLID^. 



Rallus longirosteis, Bodd. — Clapper Bail. 



A few of this species were seen about Galveston only, and a single 

 bird obtained. 



3— $ —14.60 X 20.00 X 5.75 x 2.50. Feb. 28, Galveston. 



Gallinula GALE at a, {Licht.) Bp.— Florida Gallinule. 



The only place that I was sure of seeing this bird was at the " her- 

 onry". Here 1 saw quantities of them, and it is quite probable that I 



