io8 



THE NIDIOLOGIST 



HEAD OF SCOPUS UMHRETTA (XATURAL SIZE.) 



the Hammerkop's nests which had been desert- 

 ed. On the right bank of the Mooder River 

 (western Orange Free State), near to Banks Drift, 

 a river crossing, I found a Hammerkop's nest of 

 the second shape (inverted apex) on a steep wall, 

 about six feet below its upper edge and eighteen 

 feet above the river, which was inhabited by a 

 pair of Bubo maculosus (Vieill), the big-eared 

 South African Owl, incubating three eggs. In 

 a deserted nest found on the right bank of the 

 Vail River, southwestern Transvaal, District of 

 Christiana, I found a pair of Chenalopex ^£gypt- 

 iacus (Egyptian Goose), of which the female 

 was incul)ating its nine eggs. 



I was surprised, on the whole, that I did not 

 find the Hammerkop in greater numbers after I 

 had seen some of their nests, which are so well 

 suited to afford protection; but by close observa- 

 tion through a number of years, I noticed that 

 the young birds were destroyed by the South 

 African Wild Cat {Felt's maniculata), the Thari 

 {Felis serva/), the Genetta {Goietta vulgaris 

 and pardino), and South African Lynx {Ca>a- 

 cae), and sometimes by the Python {Nata- 

 lanse) ; the birds have also to suffer from para- 

 sites. By taking their food in frogs, lizards, 

 snakes, and fish, they also absorb the parasitic 

 guests of these animals. 



.J 



O COf^ ■ 



No Further Comment Necessary. 



Won, I) you be kinil enouj(h Ui send mc a copy of 



the Nil»ioi,0(;iST containing the review of my book, 



Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania and .\^e7v Jersey. We arc 



already receiving subscriptions through your notice. 



V'ery truly yours, Witmi-.k Sto.nk, 



Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. 



That notice (in March " NiD ") brought me all the 

 exchanges I desire for this spring. — Ediuin S. Bryant., 

 Davison, Mich. 



The Least Bittern. 



PERHAPS the traveler, in punting his boat 

 through the thick growth of flags and 

 sedges that constitute our river marshes, 

 has noticed a small bird somewhat resembling 

 a diminutive Heron flying slowly over the 

 marshy waste. This is the Least Bittern {Botau- 

 rus exi'lis), which is a tolerably common summer 

 resident in the marshes bordering the Detroit 

 River. 



With the exception of the professional hunt- 

 ers and fishermen and the alert Ornithologist, 

 who takes care to frequent such places which 

 the Bittern loves for its home, the existence of 

 this bird is almost wholly unknown. Its habits 

 are not such as would bring it into prominence, 

 and it is never a very abundant species in any 

 locality. 



In Wayne County one can begin to look for 

 the arrival of our little minof Bittern in late 

 April. By the loth of June the full comple- 

 ment of eggs is usually complete. The nest is 

 usually merely a slightly hollowed platform of 

 dried sedges-placed in the recesses of the thick 

 part of the marsh. Some nests, however, ex- 

 hibit more or less care, and are placed several 

 inches above the ground upon a firm foundation 

 of vegetation. Four eggs seem to be " the set " 

 in this locality, but often six are laid. These 

 are light-blue, elliptical, averaging some 

 1.19x0.94 inches in size. 



In order to gain the accjuaintance and good 

 will of our little Bittern friend, the bird-lover 

 must not intrude himself upon him, but wait 

 patiently and (piietly in his chosen haunts. The 

 favorite hour is particularly when the evening 

 shades begin to settle softly down over the 

 marsh and all grows still and (juiet. At this 

 time the l^ittern may be seen walking or dig- 

 ging around in the mire after the minnows, 

 slugs, insects, etc., which make up its bill of 

 fare. It creates a very favorable impression 

 with its brownish-yellow under parts and darker 

 upper parts. The wings are very short, and it 

 does not aspire to long flights. Upon being 



