WATEKFOWL IN NEBRASKA. 33 
BLACK TERN. Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. 
This is by far the most abundant summer water bird throughout all this 
region, except about the lakes of Garden and Morrill Ccmities, and outnumbers 
by more than two to one any of the other waterfowl. It is also one of the most 
generally distributed. It may be seen often in large companies — flocks they 
could hardly be called, for they are usually spread out all over the lakes on 
which they occur. The largest number of black terns seen at any one place 
was at Trout Lake, where 532 were counted on June 9 and 11. They were very 
abundant also on South Cody Lake, June 21 ; Dewey Lake, June 3 to 18 ; 
Pelican Lake, June 10; Dads Lake, June 7; Marsh Lake, June 8; Hay Lake, 
June 8 and 11; Wendler Swamp, June 10 and 18; Pearson Lake, June 18; 
Enders Lake, June 13 and 14; West Chain Lake, Brown County, June 14; 
Silver Lake, near the head of the North Loup River, June 16; and common on 
Moffitt Lake, Garden County, June 21; and on Bean Lake, June 21 and 22. 
The crackling cry and the hovering, butterflylike flight of this dainty little 
species are sure to attract attention. It may be seen often resting on the 
exposed sand bars or mud flats about the lakes or on heaps of vegetation among 
the rushes. It breeds in numbers on many of the lakes. 
AMERICAN BITTERN. Botaurus lentiginosus. 
This bird is rather common in summer about the lakes, though apparently 
not numerous in any locality. It was seen on Gordon Creek, near Simeon, 
June 3 ; at Watts Lake, June 5 ; Pelican Lake, June 10 ; Marsh Lake, June 8 ; 
Red Deer Lake, June 8; Foster Lake, June 9; L Lake, June 9; Whitewater 
Lake, June 10; Molly Marsh, June 11, all in eastern Cherry County; Diamond 
Lake, Brown County, June 14 ; Speckelmire Lake, at the head of the North 
Loup River, June 16 ; West Twin Lake, at the head of the North Loup River, 
June 16; Jones' Lake, Garden County, June 21; Beaver Lake, June 21; Bean 
Lake, June 21 ; and Teal Lake, June 22. , 
In eastern Cherry County, one was noted on Dewey Lake, October 5, an- 
other on October 7, and three on October 12. One was seen on Marsh Lake, 
October 8 ; six on Pelican Lake, October 12 ; arid one on Moon Lake, in Brown 
County, on October 10. 
t LEAST BITTERN. Ixobrychus exilis. 
This species occurs occasionally in summer in the marshes about the lakes in 
the sandhill region, but is apparently nowhere common. 
GREAT BLUE HERON. Ardea herodias Jierodias. 
Of rare occurrence in most of the sandhill country, but known to breed. We 
saw only two individuals in summer — one at Willow Lake, eastern Cherry 
County, June 4, 1915 ; the other at Thedf ord, on the Loup River, June 19. 
Two were seen near Red Deer Lake, eastern Cherry County, on October 5, 
and one on Dewey Lake, October 12. 
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. Nycticorax nycticorax naevius. 
This is a common summer bird over the greater part of the sandhill region, 
though of somewhat irregular distribution. It was seen at all the groups of 
lakes excepting the Cody Lakes, but was most numerous at Pelican Lake on 
June 10, when 105 were seen. It was also numerous at Moon Lake, Brown 
County, on June 13, and White Willow Lake, near the source of the North 
Loup River, on June 16. In small numbers it was observed on Dewey Lake, 
June 4 ; Willow Lake, June 4 ; Marsh Lake, June 8 ; Big Alkali Lake, June 9 ; 
120368°— 20— Bull. 794 3 
