Michigan Ornithological Club 41 



present limits in Ecorse, but this ceased to exist some thirty years ago. A 

 rather large community flourished in Brownstown up to ten years ago, when 

 the cutting away of the timber drove them elsewhere. I know of but four 

 existing colonies at the present writing, and of these I have failed to visit the 

 one in Washtenaw County. Two are in Wayne County and about three miles 

 apart, but their feeding grounds lie in opposite directions, one patronizing the 

 Huron River and the other what is known as the River Rouge. 



I did not learn of this Huron colony until last March, when I made a 

 survey of the woods that contained it. Five nests were counted — one in a 

 sycamore and the remainder in elms. The farmers could tell me nothing 

 except that last year a severe storm blew some of the nearly grown young 

 from the nests which they captured, and also that in 1901 the nests numbered 

 fourteen. 



The other herony was found on April 22, 1900, but as this was too early 

 for eggs, I favored it with another visit May 6. The nests were in sycamore 

 trees and, like all I have seen, were as far out on the branches as safety would 

 permit. They were four in number — two in a living tree and the remainder 

 in one entirely dead and consequently inaccessible. The nests examined were 

 85 and 90 feet above the ground by actual measurement, and about 30 feet 

 lower than the other two. They contained three and four eggs, and as incu- 

 bation had commenced these sets were doubtless complete. During the fol- 

 lowing winter both trees were cut down, and only two pair nested in the 

 vicinity during 1901-2. These were probably the birds that occupied the dead 

 tree and were not molested. As I have not disturbed them let us hope they 

 will continue to nest for many years. The chances seem good as the nests 

 are in high sycamores and the birds so wary that I have never been within 

 gun shot of them. 



While on a trip north in the winter of 1898, I noticed a number of large 

 nests from the car window. This was in Springfield Township, Oakland 

 County, and is what we now call the Clarkston Herony. Not having seen a 

 nesting community of these birds I determined to investigate this one, and 

 made the trip on May 11, 1900. A large herony is a grand sight, especially 

 when viewed for the first time. As I approached, the birds arose by hun- 

 dreds and circled overhead, uttering loud honking cries. With heads drawn 

 up to the shoulders, necks protruding in lumps, legs trailing behind, and 

 great stretch of wings beating the air with slow even strokes, they presented 

 a spectacle never to be forgotten. Soon assured of my friendly disposition 

 they settled on nests and branches and became indifferent to my presence, 

 except when a twig cracked ; they then arose with cries of alarm but quieted 

 down in a few moments. The most noticeable characteristic was an absence 

 of motion. Their bodies remained like statues and nearly all movement was 

 performed by head and neck, but in a slow, gliding manner decidedly snake- 

 like. Very few males were present. One of these alighted on the side of a 

 nest and fed its mate by reguritation. Whether this was the regular custom, 

 or the female leaves the nest for the purpose of feeding, or the birds share the 

 labor of incubation, could not be determined in the short half hour I was 

 in their company. However. I am inclined to the first theory as only females 

 were sitting, and there seemed to be one on each nest. In birds that colonize 

 for the purpose of breeding one would expect to find the most amiable social 

 relations, but such was not the case with these herons. For a female to en- 



