THE ATLANTIC SLOPE NATURALIST. 



75 



Several pairs were breeding for years in 

 a swamp close to 1'avonia Station, Cain- 

 den, N. J., on the Amboy Division of the 

 P. R. R. This swamp is located between 

 two branches of the railroad, and here 

 the Bitterns and Swamp Sparrows resided, 

 seemed contented, and apparently they 

 did not mind the noise of the trains which 

 passed at frequent intervals. 



The upper portion of the Big Timber 

 Creek is also one of their favorite breed- 

 ing grounds, and also the marshes along 

 the Delaware River, between Delair and 

 Delanco. 



Fresh eggs may be found from late in 

 May to early in July. 



They raise at least two broods in a 

 season. 



For some years past I have never failed 

 to find fresh eggs on the fourth day of 

 July. 



In order to locate the breeding grounds 

 of these birds it is sometimes necessary 

 to wade knee-deep in mud and water, 

 and you are sure to flush a bird or see a 

 nest suspended among the rushes or reed- 

 maces, about one to three feet up. 



When a bird is flushed it will fly but a 

 short distance and take shelter again in 

 the reeds, and the same bird may be 

 flushed several times before getting out 

 of reach. 



The nest, which is attractive, is an odd 

 structure and must be seen to be appre- 

 ciated. 



It is a suspended platform of dead 

 rushes, about six inches in diameter, tied 

 to growing cat-tails or reeds, and the 

 birds almost invariably bend down the 

 over-hanging blades of the growing 

 rushes and weave these ends into the 

 nest, forming an open arch over the 

 structure. 



The arch over the nest is quite irregular 

 and open, so that the bird can at all times 

 be seen sitting on the eggs, if the breed- 

 ing site is approached quietly and with 

 caution. 



The green blades of the arch being 

 woven into the dry dead platform makes 

 a beautiful effect. 



While the above is what I consider the 

 typical nest of the Least Bittern, I have 

 found some nests without any arch what- 

 ever, being simply a flat mass of dead 

 rushes placed on clumps of dead grass, 

 or in small bushes on the borders of 

 swamps, streams, and marshes. 



The eggs are elliptical in shape and of 

 a pale bluish or greenish white color. 

 Four and five eggs usually constitute a 

 complete set. In one handy locality 

 where I go to study the breeding habits 

 of these birds they appear to have gotten 

 quite used to me. This is probably due 

 to the fact that I never disturb their eggs 

 or young. 



In this connection I would like to say 

 that, while rambling through marshes and 

 swamps has its disadvantages, such as 

 mud, mosquitos, and other biting insects, 

 the reward for the intruder, providing his 

 eyes are kept wide open, is well worth all 

 the little troubles referred to. 



Tree Culture in Canada. 

 From the Washington Post. 



E. Stewart, of Ottawa, Canada, who is 

 Superintendent of Forestry for the Do- 

 minion Government, is at the Shoreham. 

 He has come to attend a meeting of the 

 National Forestry Association, which 

 meets in this city. 



"My office, " said he, "is one of recent 

 creation in my country. The older parts 

 of Canada are beginning to realize the 

 need of replenishing their timber, just as 

 you have in the United States. The 

 Government's principal work, however, 

 is in the Northwest. 



"It supplies the the farmers with trees 

 and gives them every aid along the line 

 of tree culture, and they are generally 

 taking advantage of this assistance." 



It is reported from Paris, under the 

 date of March the 19th last, that an 

 old man who was digging in a garden 

 of a home for the aged in the village 

 of Nanterre discovered an antique vase 

 decorated with paintings, containing 

 2000 gold coins of the Gallo-Roman 

 period. It will probably be added to 

 the collection at the Louvre. 



