164 BIRDS OF THE GRAND PR£; REGION. — TUFTS. 



at heights ranging from 70 to 85 feet. Many nests 

 contained young birds — ^their cries could be heard 

 plainly, and in some cases their long necks protruded 

 over the edge of the nest. Under such nests we 

 invariably found bits of broken blue egg-shells. 

 Finally a nest was located under which no shells 

 could be found, but other tell-tale signs showed 

 that it was in use. The first limbs were fully 

 forty feet up, and by this time a fierce gale was 

 blowing, accompanied by driving rain; but after a 

 strenuous climb I gained the topmost twigs which 

 held the nest. It consisted of a rude platform 

 of twigs, and had a rough lining of reeds and shredded 

 bark. It contained 5 eggs, pale blue in color. 

 Some eight or ten years ago, from 75 to 100 pairs 

 were numbered in this colony. The diminution 

 in numbers has been caused chiefly, I believe, by 

 the wanton persecution that these birds receive 

 at the hands of ignorant hunters and trappers, 

 who blaze away with their rifles at the perching 

 birds which make easy and inviting targets. About 

 a dozen remains of adult birds were found under 

 the trees we visited. 



,202. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Bodd.). Black Crown- 

 ed Night Heron. — Rare transient visitor. One 

 record only, a specimen in immature plumage taken 

 on the Grand Pre, Oct. 22nd 1898. 



214. Poriana Carolina (Linn.). Sora. — Summer resident. 

 Probably not uncommon, but seldom seen on 

 account of its retiring habits. Frequents reed- 

 grown sloughs, pond holes and cat-tail swamps 

 of the Grand Pre. When seen is usually walking 

 or running over the reedy surf^ice of the water 

 from one tangle of rushes to the next. 



