Todd : Birds of Erie and Presque Isle. 531 



46. Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. 



Although this species occurs through the summer months, it is not 

 believed to breed anywhere in the vicinity, no nests having been seen 

 or reported. Individuals may be found any day in July and August 

 on the Peninsula, on the outside beach as well as about the ponds, 

 while during migrations in spring and fall it is tolerably common also. 

 It is but seldom met with on the mainland, although an occasional 

 bird has been noted there in the spring. The following dates, culled 

 from Mr. Bacon's note-book, are of interest as indicating its times of 

 occurrence and migration: May 30, 1901, three birds; June 25, 

 1900, one bird; March 31, 1899; March 27, 1902 ; April 4, 1892 ; 

 November 22, 1902. During the spring movement it sometimes 

 occurs in flocks. A party of six was observed April 12, 1900, and 

 Mr. Simpson writes that he flushed ten birds together in Niagara Pond, 

 April 14, 1903. 



[Herodias egretta. American Egret. 



Stragglers may be expected to occur in this region, especially in late summer and 

 early autumn. 

 Egretta candidissima. Snowy Heron. 



Mr. Sennett's record as given by Dr. Warren [Birds of Pennsylvania, 1890, 60) 

 is too indefinite as to the exact locality to warrant the inclusion of this heron in the 

 Erie list. If it occurs at all it could only be as a summer straggler from the south. 

 Florida ceerulea. Little Blue Heron. 



Mr. L. M. McCormick notes a specimen taken near Oberlin, Ohio, about 1882, 

 {Auk, IX, 1892, 397), and it is apt to occur at Erie also as a straggler.] 



47. Butorides virescens. Green Heron. 



This species may be considered a common summer resident, breed- 

 ing in suitable situations about the pools and along the streams of 

 the mainland, and also, according to Mr. Bacon, on the Peninsula, 

 although our experience in the spring of 1900 would scarcely confirm 

 such a statement, as the bird was met with there on but a few occa- 

 sions during the entire season. The first spring record was for April 

 19, when a single bird was seen in a pool in an open woods on the 

 ridge south of the city. The latest record was for August 29, but 

 doubtless this was too early by a month. 



48. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. Black-crowned Night Heron. 

 "Two immature Night Herons, said to have been killed in a swamp 



in this neighborhood, were brought to a local taxidermist a few years 

 ago, in the summer. " (Bacon.) The species is doubtless to be listed 

 as a rare summer resident. 



