34 



201. *Butorides virescens Linnaeus — Green Hehon. 



A very common summer resident in eastern Nebraska, but not 

 reported west of the eastern one-third of the state. Omaha, Peru, 

 West Point, Oakdale, Neligh, Lincoln, Gresham, Beatrice — breeding 

 at all localities. Merritt Cary reports it as an abundant summer resi- 

 dent and breeder at Neligh. Arrives in April, departs late in Sep- 

 tember or early in October. 



202. *Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Boddaert) — Black-crowned Night 



Heron. 

 A common migrant over the greater part of the state, becoming 

 rare in the extreme western portion, and a common breeder here and 

 there in the northern portion of the state and in the sand-hill region. 

 In the latter locality it nests in the rushes about the lakes. Not 

 known to breed south of about the middle portion of the state. Ar- 

 rives in April, departs late in September and early in October. 



203. Nyctanassa violacea (Linnaeus) — Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 



A rare straggler from the south in summer.'* Recorded from Val- 

 ley by Bruner years ago and an immature male shot on the Blue 

 river near Beatrice by Swenk, July 19, 1901. One was killed at 

 Omaha, on the Iowa side of the Missouri river, May 1, 1892, and re- 

 corded by I. S. Trostler who also reports one near Florence lake, 

 Aug. 23, 1903. 



ORDER VI. PALTJDICOL.&— Cranes, Rails, Etc. 



A. Wing over 15 inches long; hind toe much elevated Gruidae. 



A. Wing under 10 inches long; hind toe very slightly elevated . . . Rallidas. 



Family GRUID^— Cranes 



1. General plumage of adult white; of young more rusty tinged; tarsus 



10J to 13 inches long Whooping Crane. 



1. General plumage of adult slaty to brownish gray (2) 



2. Smaller, length 35 inches; tarsus 7 J inches. . .Little Brown Crane. 

 2. Larger, length 44 inches; tarsus 10 inches Sandhill Crane. 



204. Grus americana (Linnaeus) — Whooping Crane. 



Formerly a fairly common migrant in the state, now rare, although 

 as late as 1899 reported by Cary as a rather common migrant at Ne- 

 ligh. Occurs from late in March, through April and again in Octo- 

 ber. May have once bred in the sand-hill region. 



205. Grus canadensis (Linnaeus) — Little Brown Crane. 



Very rare migrant, breeding far north. Bruner has recorded speci- 

 mens from West Point and Scribner and L. Skow has reported it from 

 Omaha. Cary reports one killed at Neligh in May, 1895. 



206. *Grus mexicana (Mueller) — Sandhill Crane. 



Formerly a, very abundant migrant and a common breeder in the 

 marshes of the state, still frequently seen in migration and breeding 



