DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 7 



Of the Herons, the Little Green, Great Blue and Night Heron 

 are regular summer residents. I do not know that the nests of 

 any of these have been reported. In 1916, three Egrets (Herodias 

 egretta) spent several weeks at Pocono Lake. In 1917 one of 

 the same species enlivened the landscape for a few days. No 

 doubt these were stragglers from further south. 



The Woodcock is a regular though not an abundant summer 

 resident. It is not often seen except as it rises from the ground 

 before one's feet and speeds away on whistling wings. 



The Solitary Sandpiper is suspected of nesting occasionally 

 and the Killdeer perhaps may do the same. 



The Spotted Sandpiper scales close above the surface of the 

 lakes, goes tipping along the shores and walks the half-sub- 

 merged logs in search of food. Several years ago a nest was 

 found on the shore of a lake between low and high water marks. 

 Soon after its discovery, heavy rains set in, mingled at times 

 with hail. The water level rose rapidly until the eggs were 

 lifted from the nest. I took them from the cold water, wrapped 

 them in a box, placed them in a coat pocket, and traveled for 

 at least five hours. When the eggs were spread out at home, I 

 was surprised to find that one of them contained a living chick 

 which had pipped the shell and was striving to escape. Gentle 

 artificial heat was applied, and by next morning I had as per- 

 fect a little Sandpiper as ever peeped. 



There appear to be only one or two authentic records of the 

 Bobwhite. It may therefore be classed as a mere straggler. 



The Rufifed Grouse breeds abundantly, as is shown by the 

 numerous broods of half-grown young which are found during 

 the summer. A few nests have been discovered. One of them 

 contained eggs as late as May 20. The brown, pointed eggs are 

 laid in a depression in the leaves, usually beside a stump, log, 

 or other protecting object. The sight of the anxious mother trail- 

 ing over the ground in the effort to lead away from her pre- 

 cious brood, is one of the most pleasing which comes to the 

 roamer of the woods. 



The Ring-necked Pheasant has been reported a very few 

 times. Doubtless the birds were stragglers from some locality 

 where they had been introduced. 



