—G~ THE CONDOR — Vol. XXIV 
quite, Spanish dagger in abundance, several species of cacti, an Opuntia being 
the most abundant, and last but not least a bush which combined the sharpness 
of the Spanish dagger, the toughness of manzanita, and the wickedness of barbed 
wire entanglements Over There, which was dignified by the name of Bisbirinda. 
A sweet name! I know not the botanical name of this demon and never intend 
asking it for I already know far too much about that plant. Summarizing—the 
island was difficult to explore! I returned to the Mexicans and had a session 
with them, and they smoothed the troubled waters with a word. In the olden 
days this island was known as a Treas 
ure Island and treasure seekers had eut eg «ble 
fine picadas across it in many strategic — eae 
places. This was different. Treasure 
hunters thus have their usefulness and 
often benefit mankind. 
I ascended a gentle incline until 1 
stood on the upper level which must 
have been about twenty feet above the 
water’s surface. As I raised from a 
crouch I could see over practically the 
entire thicket and the view was simply 
astounding. It was literally alive with 
Eerets, simply thousands of them. Louw- 
isiana Herons were loosely associating 
with the Egrets while the Night Her- 
ons were grouped together in a restrict- 
ed area in which there were no Egrets. 
The Ward Herons were standing far 
Separated from each other and soon 
after they first saw me they all left 
the island. Some of the white birds 
were quite close to me and I saw that 
they were Reddish Egrets in the white 
phase. The violet colored flesh about 
the face and the legs, together with the 
size and shape, identified them at 
once. 
As to nests, every individual bush 
appeared to have nests on and in it. 
Some extremely large nests were evi- 
dently those of the Ward Heron, the Pe ie ee meee Ee al Bete 
MATERIAL, HAVING TROUBLE WITH 
most numerous were probably those of ia Merce 
the Reddish Egret, while the smallest 
must have been those of the Louisiana Heron. Those of the Night Heron could 
not be determined upon. As I slowly made my way along the picadas the fact 
grew on me that none of the nests contained eggs. The birds were all in full 
breeding plumage, no young birds were in evidence, and some birds had al- 
ready been seen carrying sticks to old nests. 
In watching the Reddish Egrets many were then seen to be building nests. 
The greater part of the material consisted of dry salt grass stems, which was 
