82 



and most common in Florida and along the Gulf coast. It winters in the 

 Southern States, and occasionally, in mild winters, a few stay in south- 

 ern Illinois. In the winter of 1883-84, there was no record north of lat- 

 itude 35°. Three were seen at Caddo, Ind. Ter., February 11, flying 

 south, but probably were not winter residents, as a reliable hunter tells 

 me that in eight years of residence there he has only once or twice 

 known it to occur in winter, and then in the mildest seasons. The win- 

 ter of 1883-'84 was anything but mild. In the spring of 1884 the regular 

 'firsts' were seen at Caddo March 18, about the same time that they 

 began to appear at stations near the Mississippi. On March 12 they 

 came to Alton, 111.; three days later they were noticed at Burlington, 

 Iowa; March 21a report came from Ferry, Iowa; they were seen at La- 

 porte City, Iowa, March 24; at Heron Lake, Minn., April 3; and on April 

 6, they reached Lake City, Minn., and Green Bay, Wis.; April 20, they 

 were reported in the west at Ellis, Kans., and Alda, Nebr. 



In the spring of 1885 the notes on the Great Blue Heron were much 

 more irregular than in 1884. It was noted March 4, at Paris, HI., and 

 March 7 at Shawneetown. Both of these must have been very early 

 migrants, for, with the exception of March 17 at Bichmond, Kans., no 

 others were recorded until the last two days in March. During the 

 week from March 30 to April 5, they were noted without any irregu- 

 larity from Saint Louis, Mo. ; Fayette, Mo.; Sioux City, Iowa; Heron 

 Lake, Minn. ; Elk Biver, Minn. ; Peoria, 111. ; Aledo, 111. ; Hennepin, 111.; 

 Bockford, 111.; and Durand, Wisconsin. April 15 they reached Huron, 

 Dak. 



In the fall of 1885 the first migrants appeared at Fern wood, 111., July 

 26 ; Emporia, Kans., August 2 ; Mount Carmel, Mo., October 1 ; and 

 Bonham, Tex., July 12. None were seen at Fernwood after July 28; 

 or at Grinnell, Iowa, after September 28. At Mount Carmel, Mo., they 

 were common October 3, and disappeared October 20. The last left 

 Saint Louis, Mo., October 6. August 21 was the date of the last seen at 

 Bonham, Tex. Mr. Lloyd states that the species is a resident in Tom 

 Green and Concho counties, Tex. 



196. Ardea egretta Gmelin. [489.] Great White Egret. 



A more southern species than the Great Blue Heron ; breeds abun- 

 dantly near the Gulf in swamps and prairie ponds. The few which leave 

 the vicinity of the sea-coast straggle up the Mississippi, even to Minne- 

 sota. The greatest wanderers are the young, which in the fall often 

 stray northward into regions where the species is not known to breed. 

 Professor Lantz has seen them at Manhattan, Kans., and there are 

 other records for the State, but they are not known to breed within its 

 limits. There is one record from southeastern Nebraska. In southern 

 Illinois it is known to breed. 



In 1885 two of these Egrets were killed, out of a flock of six, at Chi- 

 cago, 111., July 27. One was seen at Bonham, Tex., July 12, and eleven 



