DELAWARE VALLEY ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 11 



contents of several to consist of killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) 

 almost exclusively, and sometimes roach (Abramis crysoleucas) . 



Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis). A summer resident on the 

 Delaware River marshes, and seldom noticed on account of its 

 secretive habits. Six examples which I examined contained 

 remains of small fishes and insects, and in one were three quite 

 large killifish (Fundidus diaphanus). 



Great Blue Heron {Ardea herodias). Frequent in spring and 

 fall migrations, and occasionally occurs in winter. Wilson 

 mentions ^ a specimen, the stomach of which ' ' was entirely 

 filled with small fish, among which were some small eels" 

 {Anguilla chrisypa). This heron doubtless feeds on various of 

 our cyprinoids and killifish, though I have no data. Audubon 

 mentions ^ a bird he captured at Key West, which contained 

 the undigested large head of a fish which lodged among the 

 viscera, and thus rendered it sickly. Apparently these large 

 herons swallow extraordinarily large fish, as I found a Great 

 White Heron (Ardea occidentalis) on Sugar Loaf Key in Florida, 

 which appeared greatly inconvenienced after swallowing a large 

 sheepshead.* 



Little Blue Heron (Florida cserulea). Occurs occasionally in 

 late summer in the Delaware River valley, or about streams 

 along the coast. In the white plumage it is usually confused 

 with the Egret by sportsmen and others. Recently I had the 

 opportunity of examining the contents of the stomachs of two 

 of these birds, killed near Sea Isle City, on August 13, 1913. 

 They were obtained by Mr. W. J. Fox, and both were in the 

 white plumage. Both also contained killifish exclusively. In 

 one example were 46 mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus mac- 

 rolepidotus), of which several of the largest were 2^ inches long, 

 and 14 small pursy minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus). The 

 other bird had 62 small mummichogs and one adult pursy 

 minnow. These show it to be quite a voracious feeder. 



Green Heron (Butorides virescens). Our most abundant and 



' Amer. Omith., iii, 1829, p. 63. 

 ^ Birds of America, vi, 1842, p. 127. 

 =^^Auk, xxiii, 1906, p. 397. 



