12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



familiar heron. It is usually seen along our creek or river- 

 shores, moving stealthily over the mud in search of pre}', or 

 silently standing motionless on the lookout. Green Herons are 

 very partial to small killies (Fundulus heteroditus macrolepidotus 

 and F. diaphanus) along our tidal regions. They also devour 

 young roach (Abramis crysoleucas) and minnows (Notropis- 

 whipplii analostanus and iV. cornutus). The birds are very agile 

 in capturing young fishes, which they seize by suddenly dart- 

 ing the long sharp beak into the water. The victim is quickly 

 gulped down, head first, with equal dexterity. Often the bird 

 may appear to crouch, even if the head and neck are not com- 

 pletely folded on the shoulders. An examination of a number 

 of stomachs shows that their food varies, consisting of insects, 

 grubs, dragon-flies, etc. One bird was reported to have swal- 

 lowed a dead bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), though this is 

 likely exceptional, living prey being preferred. 



Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax ncevius). Next to the last,, 

 this is our most common heron. It is a summer resident, ap- - 

 pearing generally distributed about our larger bodies of water. 

 Examples I examined had fed on roach (Abramis crysoleucas), 

 killifish {Fundulus diaphanus'), and sunfish (Eupomotis gibbosus). 



Greater Yellow-legs (Totanus melanoleucus) . This occurs 

 along our rivers sometimes, in the spring and fall. They often 

 feed on small fish, as roach (Abramis crysoleucas) , and other 

 shiners. It is interesting to note Le Sueur in his remarks on 

 the killifish (virtually Fundulus heteroditus macrolepidotus) , men- 

 tions it is preyed on by the Yellowlegs {'■" Scolopaxmelanoleuca 

 and S. flavipes " ) . ^ 



Solitary Sandpiper {Totanus solitarius). A common visitor 

 during the spring and fall migrations. Most examples I exam- 

 ined contained insects, though in one case a small killifish 

 {Fundulus diaphanus). 



Bald Eagle {Halieetus leucocephalus) . In my experience an^ 

 occasional resident. Its habit of stealing fish from the Fisb. 

 Hawk is well known. I have seen it feeding on alewives {Pomo- 

 lobus pseudoharengus) thrown out from the fisheries along the 



iJourn, Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., i, pt. 1, 1817, p. 131. 



