42 Wyoming Bxperim?nt Station. 



191. Ardetta exilis (Gmel.). 

 Least Bittern. 



Accidental. Mr. Bond has informed me that he has identi- 

 fied this bird in the collection of M. E. Clark of Cheyenne. 

 Mr. Clark stated that the bird was killed on Crow creek near 

 Cheyenne by some boys. This is the only record in the state. 



194. Ardea herodias Linn. 

 Great Blue Heron. 



Summer resident. Rather common along streams and 

 near lakes at elevations less than 8,000 feet. These birds arrive 

 on the Laramie Plains about the time the ice disappears from 

 the lakes and for the first few weeks feed almost entirely upon 

 the fish that have died during the winter. About six miles 

 above Laramie .there is quite a heronry where some thirty or 

 more nests are built in the tops of cottonwood trees. Mr. C. 

 W. Gilmore visited this heronry on May 21, 1897, and found 

 incubation well advanced. He also observed that the nest con- 

 tained on an average five eggs. The lowest number found was 

 four and a few had six. On May 12, 1901, he made a second 

 visit and found the eggs quite fresh. Heronrys are uncommon 

 in the state, but will be found occasionally along wooded 

 streams. A second one has been reported to me between Fort 

 Laramie and Guernsey on the North Platte river. As a rule 

 these birds breed as isolated pairs. Unfortunately the average 

 hunter takes delight in killing this beautiful heron, although 

 he must realize that the bird is worthless to him. The flesh 

 is wholly unfit for food and the bird is in no way detrimental 

 to the farmer or grazer. Bond reports them common at Chey- 

 enne ; Jesurun at Douglas. The University records are all from 

 the Laramie Plains. I have seen these birds near Sheridan, 

 in the Big Horn Basin, near Otto, and on the Shoshone river, 

 on Clear creek, near Green river, on the Snake river, on the 

 -Bear river and near Fort Steele on the Platte. 



