474 THE GREEN HERON. 



General Range.— Eastern United States from New Jersey, Illinois, and Kan- 

 sas, southward through Central America and the West Indies to Guiana and 

 Colombia; casually north on the Atlantic Coast to Massachusetts and Maine. 



Range in Ohio. — Formerly unknown. Recently discovered to be not un- 

 common in the lower Scioto Valley, and reported casually throughout the state. 



THE summer of 1901 witnessed an invasion of this southern species 

 into our state which was noted by two competent observers. At different 

 times during the month of August, Rev. W. F. Henninger saw or had re- 

 ported to him eight specimens on the banks of the Scioto River in Pike 

 County, and he mounted four of them. Most of those seen were young birds 

 in the white plumage. 



During July, August, and Sqjtember of the same year, Mr. J. N. Proc- 

 tor, while camping out on the banks of the Miami River, near Hamilton, 

 repeatedly observed four or five adult birds and several young, one of which 

 he secured. He found them feeding at the edges of the bars and mud-flats, 

 usually in open situations, where they could command a view of all the 

 approaches. They were very wary, and before settling to feed, would circle 

 about apprehensively until satisfied that there was no danger. Upon being 

 flushed, they would fly up ot down the stream and take refuge in some tall 

 trees. At night they roosted high, usually at some distance from the river. 



The birds were not found the following season, and careful inquiry in 

 the neighborhood showed that th'eir presence was unknown. Mr. Proctor 

 surmises — correctly, I believe — that those seen in 1901 were wanderers from 

 the south, following the tribal instinct of securing a northern outing during 

 the heated term. In like manner, it is not at all certain that the Pike County 

 birds were breeders, but they might be encouraged to take up residence with 

 us (at least if the local museums would content themselves with Southern 

 specimens), for they are known to nest along the Wabash and elsewhere 

 in southern Illinois. 



No. 214. 



GREEN HERON. 



A. O. U. No. 201. Biitorides virescens (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Fi^y-up-ThiI-crEEk; ShiTEpokE (vulg.). 



Description. — Adult : Top of head and occipital crest glossy, dark green 

 f bottle-green) ; median line of throat and neck white, with admixture of greenish 

 black posteriorly ; remainder of head and neck rich, maroon-chestnut, the feathers 

 more or less decomposed ; lower neck with lengthened bare space behind ; general 

 color of back and wings green, the interscapulars lanceolate and tapering, with 

 a glaucous or slaty cast and with white shafts ; middle coverts bright bottle- 

 green edged with buff; greater coverts dull bottle-green edged with 



