WATER BIRDS. 141 
73. Lesser Egret. Egretta candidissima candidissima (Gmel.). (197) 
Synonyms: Little Egret, Snowy Egret, Common Egret, Snowy Heron, Little White 
Heron.—Ardea candidissima, Gmel., 1789, Wils., Nutt., Aud., and others. Garzetta can- 
didissima, Bonap., 1855, Baird, Ridgw., Coues and most recent authors. 
Figure 34. 
Known by its small size, pure white color, and in the breeding season 
by the peculiar plumes known as “aigrettes.”’ i 
Distribution.—Temperate and tropical America, from Long Island and 
Oregon south to the Argentine Republic and Chili, casually to Nova Scotia 
and southern British Columbia. 
This species is much rarer in Michigan than the preceding. In fact its 
presence here must be considered merely accidental. Formerly it may 
have occurred regularly in the . 
southern tier of counties, but there 
is little to indicate that such was the 
case. There are a few good records 
for the state. Mr. Norman A. 
Wood of Ann Arbor has a mounted 
specimen in his collection which he 
informs us was taken about four 
miles from Ann Arbor, on the 
Huron River, April 20, 1895. <Ac- 
cording to marginal notes in Mr. A. 
B. Covert’s copy of Cook’s ‘ Birds 
of Michigan,” he (Mr. Covert) took 
a specimen near Ann Arbor in June 
1895, and ‘fan adult male in full 
plumage, Aug. 17, 1874.” He has 
also recorded the capture of a 
fe é Fig. 34. Lesser Egret. 
specimen at Ann Arbor, April 9, From Bird Lore. (Courtesy of Frank M. 
Chapman.) 
1872 (Forest & Stream, VII, 10, 
147). In his manuscript list (1894-95) however, he states that all 
specimens taken in the state so far as he knows have occurred in the month 
of August. 
Dr. Gibbs states that “A specimen was collected in Kalamazoo county, 
August 6, 1877, and is in the collection”of G. B. Sudworth. The species 
is not mentioned in the lists of Boies, Trombley, Miles, Steere, Hughes, 
Sager, Cabot or Stockwell.” Mr.’ Amos Butler states that “It is a not 
common migrant and summer resident in the southern part of the state; 
breeding locally in the lower Wabash Valley. Mr. Ridgway says that it 
bred in Knox and Gibson counties, and J. A. Balmer says that although 
they varied in numbers from year to year they were quite constant summer 
residents in Knox county. In 1890 they were common about Swans Pond. 
This so far as known is their most northern breeding ground. After 
breeding they roam over the country, soon extending their journeys, as 
may be gathered by reported occurrences, into Michigan, Ontario, and 
Manitoba” (Birds of Indiana, 1897, 662). Kumlien & Hollister say “A 
rare and irregular visitor from the south during August and September. 
Of late years very rare. We have never been able to trace a capture of 
