33 



190. *Botaurus lentiginosus (Montague) — Bittern. 



A common migrant throughout the state, breeding everywhere 

 in suitable localities but much more commonly in the sand-hill region 

 than elsewhere. Migrating during April and late in September and 

 in October, lingering sometimes into December. 



191. *Ardetta exilis (Gmelin) — Least Bittern. 



A common summer resident in the eastern portion of the state 

 in suitable localities, rare in the sand-hill region, and not so far re- 

 corded from the western part of the state. Arrives in the latter part 

 of April or early in May and departs during the latter part of Sep- 

 tember and in October. 



194. *Ardea herodias Linnaeus — Great Blue Heron. 



Found along rivers and streams throughout the state, and breeds 

 here and there in appropriate places; more common eastward and 

 especially along the Missouri river, where it nests in colonies in the 

 largest trees of the river bottom. 



196. Herodias egretta Gmelin — American Egret. 



Of this heron there are four records for the state. Aughey states 

 that he saw a single specimen on the Nemaha in Richardson county 

 in May, 1873. A specimen was killed near Omaha, July 12, 1894, 

 and reported by I. S. Trostler. L. Skow reports it from Nebraska 

 City, and Swenk records seeing one on Cedar creek, near Beatrice, 

 July 12, 1900. A straggler from the south, occurring in southern 

 and eastern Nebraska in summer. 



197. *Egretta candidissima Gmelin — Snowy Heron. 



An occasional straggler from the south in summer, and a rare, per- 

 haps accidental, breeder. We have several records of its occurrence: 

 Aughey records it from Otoe and Richardson counties; I. S. Trostler 

 from near Fremont, Sept. 4, 1893; Swenk from Fairbury; and one 

 was shot in the Hat creek valley in extreme northwestern Nebraska 

 and the specimen mounted. August Eiche has recorded a, nest of 

 this bird at Lincoln, in June, 1895, the female which was shot on the 

 nest being now in his collection (See Proc. N. O. U., II, 96). 



200. Florida caerulea Linnaeus — Little Blue Heron. 



A straggler from the south in summer, to the southern part of the 

 state. Reported from Butler county, on the Platte river, by a Dr. 

 Peebles, according to Bruner; also observed by Trostler near Omaha 

 June 15, 1897 and Aug. 15, 1903; and a specimen is in the collection 

 of Rees Heaton of Curtis, killed on an artificial lake at that place. 

 Bruner also records a specimen from near Omaha years ago brought 

 to F. J. Brezee to be mounted, but whether killed in Iowa or Ne- 

 braska is not known. It has been reported as breeding north of 

 Omaha, on the Iowa side of the Missouri river, but this is probably 

 an error. Possibly some of the records of the preceding species 

 may have referred to the young of this, since at that age it is white. 



