ZOOLOGY — BIRDS. 



63 



searching in tlie mud of tlie slouglig and ponds for its food, which, consists of small shells,' 

 worms, an4 even fish. It is often exposed for sale in the California markets. 



AEDEA HEEODIAS, L i n n .—Great Blue Heron. 



Ardea herodias, Wils. Am. Om. vol. VIII, pi. 65, fig. 2.— Aud. B. of A. Oet. vol. VI, p. 122, pi. 369.— Nctt, Orn. vol. 

 II, p. 42. 



Ahundant on all the large water courses and lakes. 



AEDEA VIEESOENS, Linn .—Green Heron. 



Ardea virescem, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 105, pi. 367.— Wils. Am. Om. vol. VII, p. 97, pi. 61, fig. 1. — Nmi. Orn. 



vol. II, p. 63. 

 Butsridea virescem, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 676. 



Ahundant. 



AEDEA EGRETTA, G m e 1 i n .—Great American Egret. 



Ardea egretta, Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 132, pi. 370.— Wils. Am. Orn. vol. VII, p. 106, pi. 61, fig. 4— Nott. 



Orn. vol. II, p. 47. 

 Herodias egretta, Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 666. 



They breed in large numbers, associated with other species, on the edges of sloughs and 

 marshes. 



AEDEA CANDIDISSIMA, G m e 1.— Snowy Heron. 



Ardea candidissima,'Wihs. Am. Orn. vol. VII, p. 120, pi. 62, fig. 4.— Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 163, pi. 374.— 



NcTT. Orn. vol. II, p. 49. — Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part EC, p. 633. 

 Garzdta candidissima, Baikd, Gen. Eep. IX, 665. 



Abundant. 



BOTAUEUS LENTIGINOSUS, Stephens.— American Bittern. 



Ardea minor, Wils. Am. Om. vol. VIII, p. 35, pi. 65, fig. 3.— Aud. B. of A. Fol. pi. 337. 

 Ardea lentiginosa, Aud B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 94, pi. 365. — Nutt. Orn. vol. II, p. 60. 

 Botaurus lentiginosus, Baird, Gen. Rep. IX, 674. 



Plentiful, freq[uenting the marshes, where I have often shot from ten to fifteen in a day's 

 hunt. The flesh is very palatable. 



AEDETTA EXILIS, G m e 1 i n ,— Least Bittern. 



Ardea exUis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 645.— Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. VI, p. 100, pi. 366.— Wils. Am. 



Om. vol. Vni, p. 37, pi. 65, fig. 4. 

 Ardetta exilis, Baird, Gen. Eep. IX, 673. 



Abundant, resorting to the same localities as the preceding species. 



CHAEADEIUS VOCIFEEUS, L i n n .— KiUdeer Plover. 



Chairadrius vodfems, Gmel. Syst. Nat. vol. I, part II, p. 685. — Aud. B. of A. Oct. vol. V, p. 207, pi. 317. — Wils. Am. 

 Orn. vol. VII, p. 73, pi. 59, fig. 6. 



Abundant in all portions of the country. The traveller is often started by its melancholy 

 cry even on the most barren wastes, where this bird finds an ample supply of insects. 



