WATERFOWL IN NEBEASKA. 33 



BLACK TERN. Hydrochelidon nigra surinatnensis. 



This is by far the most abundant summer water bird throughout all this 

 region, except about the laiies of Garden and Morrill Gcuuties, and outnumbers 

 by more than two to one any of the other waterfowl. It is also one of the most 

 generally distributed. It may be seen often in large companies — flocks they 

 could hardly be called, for they are usually spread out all over the lakes on 

 which they occur. The largest number of black terns seen at any one place 

 was at Trout Lake, where 532 were counted on June 9 and 11. They were very 

 abundant also on South Cody Lake, June 21; Dewey Lake, June 3 to 18; 

 Pelican Lake, June 10; Dads Lake, June 7; Marsh Lake, June 8; Hay Lake, 

 June 8 and 11; Wendler Swamp, June 10 and IS; Pearson Lake, June 18; 

 Enders Lake, June 13 and 14; West Chain Lake, Brown County, June 14; 

 Silver Lake, near the head of the North I/Oup River, June 16; and common on 

 Moffitt Lake, Garden County, June 21; and on Bean Lake, June 21 and 22. 

 The crackling cry and the hovering, butterflylike flight of this dainty little 

 species are sure to attract attention. It may be seen often resting on the 

 exposed sand bars or mud flats about the lakes or on heaps of vegetation among 

 the rushes. It breeds in numbers on many of the lakes. 



AMERICAN BITTERN. Botaurus lentiginosus. 



This bird is rather common in summer about the lakes, though apparently 

 not numerous in any locality. It was seen on Gordon Creek, near Simeon, 

 June 3 ; at Watts Lake, June 5 ; Pelican Lake, June 10 ; Marsh Lake, June 8 ; 

 Hed Deer Lake, June 8 ; Foster Lake, June 9 ; L Lake, June 9 ; Whitewater 

 Lake, June 10; Molly Marsh, June 11, all in eastern Cherry County; Diamond 

 Lake, Brown County, June 14; Speckelmire Lake, at the head of the North 

 Loup River, June 16 ; West Twin Lake, at the head of the North Loup River, 

 June 16 ; Jones Lake, Garden County, June 21 ; Beaver Lake, June 21 ; Bean 

 Lake, June 21 ; and Teal Lake, June 22. 



In eastern Cherry County, one was noted on Dewey Lake, October 5, an- 

 other on October 7, and three on October 12. One was seen on Marsh Lake, 

 October 8 ; six on Pelican Lake, October 12 ; and one on Moon Lake, in Brown 

 County, on October 10. 



t LEAST BITTERN. Ixobrychus exilis. 



This species occurs occasionally in summer in the marshes about the lakes in 

 the sandhill region, but is apparently nowhere common. 



GREAT BLUE HERON. Ardea herodias Tierodias. 



Of rare occurrence in most of the sandhill country, but known to breed. We 

 saw only two individuals in summer — one at Willow Lake, eastern Cherry 

 County, June 4, 1915 ; the other at Thedford, on the Loup River, June 19. 



Two were seen near Red Deer Lake, eastern Cherry County, on October 5, 

 and one on Dewey Lake, October 12. 



BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Nycttcoraas nycticorax naevius. 



This is a common summer bird over the greater part of the sandhill region, 

 though of somewhat irregular distribution. It was seen at all the groups of 

 lakes excepting the Cody Lakes, but was most numerous at Pelican Lake on 

 June 10, when 105 were seen. It was also numerous at Moon Lake, Brown 

 County, on June 13, and White Willow Lake, near the source of the North 

 Loup River, on June 16. In small numbers it was observed on Dewey Lake, 

 June 4 ; Willow Lake, June 4 ; Marsh Lake, June 8 ; Big Alkali Lake, June 9 ; 

 120368°— 20— Bull. 794 3 



