120 IfSarS AND BOOS OF 



four eggs; these were three of five and one of six. The eggs are pale, bluish-green, 

 varying from elliptical to oval; size from 1.90 to 2.15 lang, by 1.35 to 1.55 broad. In 

 some localities the nest of this Heron is built on the ground in marshes. 



203. TELLOW-CBOWNED NIGHT HERON. Nycticorax violaceus (Linn.) 

 Geog. Dist. — Warm-temperate Eastern North America, from the Carolinas and the 

 Lower Ohio Valley south to Brazil; casually north to Massachusetts and west to 

 Colorado. ' 



The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is a southern species, known to breed on the 

 Atlantic coast as far north as the Carolinas, and in the interior as far north as 

 Southern Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. It is found along the entire Gulf coast of 

 Mexico, throughout the West Indies, Central America and in Northern South Ameri- 

 ca. The bird is very similar to the Black-crowned Night Heron, but is a little 

 smaller. The back and head are furnished with long, elegant, lanceolate plumes. 

 The general color is pale, ashy-blue. Its nest is a slight platform of sticks. In 

 some parts of the Southern States this Heron is said to be quite abundant, while in 

 others it is rarely met with. In portions of Florida it breeds in great numbers, gen- 

 erally in company with other species, forming large heronies, especially in the 

 interior in large cypress swamps. In the southern portion of South Carolina it nests 

 in swamps or in tall trees which are surrounded by water. In various regions of 

 Texas the nest of this Heron is built on the lower branches of a cypress tree, near 

 some stream. Mr. Rachford says he never found more than two or three nests in 

 close proximity to one another, but frequently found the birds breeding in company 

 with the Snowy and Louisiana Herons. The nesting season is during April and May. 

 He has taken as many as six eggs from a nest; the usual number, however, is four. 

 They vary in shape from elliptical to oval; sizes 1.90 to 2.00 long by 1.40 to 1.50 

 broad. 



204. WHOOPING CBANE. Grus americana (Linn.) Geog. Dlst. — Interior of 

 North America, from the Fur Countries to Florida, Texas and Mexico, and from 

 Ohio to Colorado. 



The Great White or Whooping Crane is confined to the interior of North 

 America, and breeds from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas northward, 

 passing the winter in the swamps of Florida and Texas. Its chief line of migration 

 seems to be the Mississippi Valley at large. It is said to be common in the fur 

 countries. In Ohio it is considered a rare spring and fall migrant. Breeds in various 

 places throughout Manitoba, building its nest on the ground in the midst of rank 

 grass near marshes, or in wet meadows. Mr. J. W. Preston mentions the finding of 

 a number of nests in Northern Iowa. One found in the marshes near Eagle Lake, 

 was about eighteen inches in height, well built of tough, fine marsh grass and placed 

 on firm sod; it was neatly cupped and contained two heavily marked, drab-colored 

 eggs.* Mr. R. M. Anderson found a nest containing two eggs in a marsh of Hancock 

 county, Iowa, May 26. The nest was composed of a mass of grass and reeds and was 

 about twenty-four inches in diameter and was placed eight or ten inches above the 

 water. The two eggs measured 4.06x2.38, 4.03x2.50, respectively. The eggs of the 

 Whooping Crane are large and coarse looking; in color, light brownish-drab, 

 sparsely marked, with large irregular spots of a pale dull chocolate-brown and ob- 

 scure shell-markings; elliptical; the shell iB very rough, covered with numerous 

 elevations like little warts; Dr. Coues says two (or three?) in number; size about 



• The OoloBist, Vol. IV, p. 43. 



