NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. . 113 



edges of the water counees in May bending down the tops of the water grass and 

 platting it into a snug little nest, about two or three feet above the water. Mr. 

 Perry informs me that the Least Bittern in Beaufort county. South Carolina, makes 

 its home in the fresh water ponds and commences to build about the 10th of May, 

 fixing the nest in the thick rushes. The eggs of the Least Bittern are from three 

 to five, usually four, in number, pale bluish or greenish-white, elliptical in shape. 

 Six eggs measure as follows: L15x90, 1.16x93, 1.22x.95, 1.23x.92, 1.24x.93, L23x.93. 

 The average size is 1.20x.93. 



191. 1. COKEY'S LEAST BITTERIT. Ardetta neoxena (Cry.) Geog. Dist.— 

 Southern Florida (Caloosaiiatchie river, near Lake Okeechobee); Ontario; Michigan. 



This is recorded as being without doubt perfectly distinct from any known 

 species. It was described from a specimen taken in the Everglades of Florida. In 

 the same region to which the species was supposed to be confined a half dozen other 

 specimens have been taken. Examples have been shot in the marshes near Toronto, 

 Canada, where A. exilis is common. One is recorded from Michigan. It is more 

 than likely, according to authorities who have examined specimens, that it will prove 

 a color phase of A. exilis. '' 



192. GBEAT WHITE HEKON. Ardea occidentalis And. Geog. Dist.— Flori- 

 da, Cuba, Jamaica; accidental in Mississippi Valley. 



This beautiful, majestic bird, known as the Florida Heron, is an abundant resi- 

 dent of Florida, the Keys and southward to Cuba and Jamaica. In Florida, however, 

 it is said not to be so abundant as in former years. Whole rookeries have been de- 

 stroyed by the "plume hunters," who collect feathers for hats and other decorative 

 purposes. The birds are killed and the plumes are taken from their back, head and 

 breast, and the carcasses thrown to the buzzards.* This Heron nests usually in 

 large colonies, and in company with the Great Blue Heron. Most of the nests are 

 built low down, not more than five or ten feet from the ground, but where tne birds 

 are disturbed the nests are placed in the highest mangroves. They are simply 

 platforms of sticks. The eggs are plain bluish-green, of varying shades; sizes from 

 2.00 to 2.45 long by 1.80 to 1.85 broad. The bird known as A. wuerdemanni (Baird)t 

 is believed to be either a colored phase of A. occidentalis, or an abnormal specimen of 

 A. wardi Ridgw. 



193. WARD'S HEBOIT. Ardea wardi Ridgw. Geog. Dist.— Florida. 



This large Heron in its white phase is described as indistinguishable from the 

 Great White Heron; in the colored phase like occidentalis, but with the head colored 

 as in the Great Blue Heron. It is restricted to Florida; common in the southwestern 

 portion, and may frequently be found nesting along the coast. It breeds in com- 

 munities with other herons, egrets and snake birds, constructing the same kind of 

 nest as does the Great Blue Heron. The eggs are four, often only three, in number. 

 Prof. Ridgway gives the average measurement as about 2.65x1.85. Their color is 

 bluish-green. 



• See W. E. D. Scott's article on the Present Condition of the Bird Rookeries of the 

 Gulf Soast of Florida in The Auk, Vol. IV, pp. 135-144, 213-222, 273-284. 

 t Placed in the Hypothetical List of the A. O. U. Check List. 



n 



