THE OOLOGIST. 



75: 



his beak as described and arising to 

 some perch and getting it secured re- 

 sume his repast. My persistent stare 

 would annoy him somewhat and he 

 often changed to another tree on that 

 account. Finally his wants satisfied he 

 would utter his loud, grating trill and 

 retire to some tree top to warble happy 

 and content. 



I have observed these proceedings 

 on the part of the White-rumped Shrike 

 during the past two winters. I have 

 tried hard to identify some of them as 

 the Northern Shrike but in no instance 

 have I succeeded ; close inspection 

 would reveal the absence of the wavy 

 lines on the breast. There seems to be 

 some conjecture as to the object which 

 Shrike's have in impaling their victims. 

 In the cases I observed the reason could 

 not be in doubt, namely: to assist in 

 tearing its prey. And, although, this 

 may not be the reason in every instance 

 it might be the origin of a habit car- 

 ried to excess. John Laksen. 



Three Birds of a Louisiana Marsh. 



The whole of the southern coast of 

 Louisiana is a vast sea marsh, from 

 twenty-tive to fifty miles in width, 

 threaded with numerous bayous and 

 passes, and dotted here and there with 

 lakes and shallow sloughs and lagoons. 



This marsh, or pra.rie, as it is locally 

 called, is the haunt of countless num- 

 bers of wild fowl the year around, in 

 winter the home of Ducks and Coot of 

 thenortli. in summer the habitation of 

 Hero! .-. Rails and many small birds. 



Ot 1 he summer residents, three es- 

 pecially interest the student of bird life, 

 the Least Bittern [Botaurus exilis) the 

 Purple Gallinule {lonornis martinica) 

 and the Boat-tailed Grackle ( Quiscalus 

 magor), all of which impress the bird 

 lover by their beauty and their habits. 



The first, the Least Bittern, smallest 

 of the Heron family in North America, 

 is a truly interesting bird. Here it is 



found on the banks of every marshy 

 bayou and pool of still water, living 

 among the thick reeds and rank grass, 

 that clothe with their verdure the treach- 

 erous marsh. The agility of this bird 

 in climbing and slipping' through this 

 thick growth is remarkable, and it is, 

 only when suddenly surprised that it 

 takes wing. Its flight at first is awk- 

 ward and heron-like, but as it rises 

 over the reeds, its flying becomes steady,, 

 and fairly strong and swift. The stu- 

 pidity and and want of fear which this 

 bird at times displays, is another puz- 

 zling trait. I have seen one standing 

 on the floating water-cabbages, (a cur- 

 ious aquatic plant which carpets many 

 southern bayous), and not moving until 

 the boat was within a foot or two of it, 

 sometimes not until touched by the oar 

 or the hand of the occupant, when it 

 would take a few jerky, nervous steps, 

 out of reach, or rise and fly to the adja- 

 cent bank. The note of the Least Bit- 

 tern, despite many to the contrary, is a 

 short, peculiar croak, which is difficult 

 to exactly describe, even though one 

 has often heard it. 



This Bittern arrives in Louisiana iui 

 the latter part of March, and begins, 

 nesting shortly after its arrival. The- 

 nest is 'always built near the water, 

 usually from one to four feet from the 

 edge of the reeds, and from twelve to 

 thirty inches up. It is constructed of 

 broken bits of reeds and marsh grass to 

 form a mere platform, perfectly flat 

 and loosely put together. The diameter 

 of the nest averages about seven inches. 

 The depth of material about two or 

 three, while the cavity, which is always, 

 very slight, does not exceed half an 

 inch. 



Nests with fresh eggs may be found 

 from about the middle of April to the 

 middle of May, and I am inclined to 

 think that a second brood is raised. I 

 took several sets, incubation begun on 

 April 18th, and saw many young on, 

 Mav 6th. A habit of the Bittern which 



