ARDEIDrE — THE HERONS — ARDETTA. 
75 
of California. He has met with it along the coast in only a single instance. This 
was in April, at Santa 'Barbara. It chiefly frequents the marshes covered with tule, 
'or long grass, and is not easily discovered ; otherwise we should be probably able to 
assign it a range as far north as the Columbia River. It is only partially migratory 
in California. Mr. Ridgway met with a single individual, in May, on the borders 
of a small stream, among the willows, and not far from Pyramid Lake. 
Notwithstanding the impression which prevails, wherever this bird is at all com- 
mon, that it is unable to sustain a prolonged flight, this idea can hardly be regarded 
as well founded, as there can be no doubt of the migratory habits of the species. 
A single specimen is mentioned as captured alive on the rocks of St. David’s Head, 
Bermuda, on the 20th of April, 1853, where it had alighted in its flight to the north ; 
and Major Wedderburn, besides the record of several specimens of this bird taken 
by him in Bermuda in October and in December, mentions killing one near Boss’s 
Cove, on the 15th of March, while on the wing. With this exception, he was never 
able to get them to take to wing, they always preferring to run about among the roots 
of the mangroves, where they could only be found with great difficulty. Wilson 
speaks of this bird as having been very rarely found on the salt-marshes. A single 
bird shot near Great Egg Harbor was regarded as something very uncommon. It 
was seen in the meadows below Philadelphia, on the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, 
where it bred every year in the thick tussocks of grass, in swampy places ; but 
neither Wilson nor Audubon seems to have known anything as to its eggs. The 
latter states that on one occasion lie kept a pair alive, feeding them with small 
fish. They were very expert at catching flies, and would swallow caterpillars and 
other insects. They were very gentle, and, though they disliked to be handled, 
made no attempt to strike at any one. They would climb with ease from the floor 
to the top of the curtain with their feet and claws. At the approach of night they 
became much more lively. The same author states that this bird breeds in Florida 
and in the Carolinas. Dr. Holbrook found it also breeding near Charleston. The 
nest was usually on the ground, and was composed of dried and decayed weeds. The 
number of eggs, as he states, is three ; but his account of them is so incorrect as to 
throw doubt over his whole description of nesting and eggs. When startled, this 
bird utters a low cry, like “qua but its ordinary cry is a rough croak — a feeble 
imitation of the note of the Great Blue Heron. Its flight, which by day is appar- 
ently so weak, at dusk is quite different. It then may be seen passing steadily 
along, in the manner of the larger Herons. In the day it can hardly be induced to 
fly, and it then moves in a confused and uncertain manner. Its food generally 
consists of snails, slugs, tadpoles, young frogs, water-lizards, and occasionally 
small shrews and field-mice. 
Mr. Nelson speaks of this bird as being a common summer resident everywhere 
in the marshes and sloughs of Illinois, arriving the 1st of May, and nesting early 
in June. He has always found its nest supported, at from two to three feet above 
the water, by the surrounding rushes. It is described as a very frail structure — 
a thin platform from one to three inches thick, with scarcely depression enough in 
the centre to prevent the eggs from rolling out. Small dry pieces of reeds are used 
in building it. The eggs are usually from two to six in number. If approached 
while on the nest, the female generally steps quietly to one side ; but if suddenly 
surprised, takes to flight. Each nest is usually placed by itself ; but, in exceptional 
cases, six or eight may sometimes be found in close proximity. 
Mr. B. F. Goss informs me that the Least Bittern usually constructs a little 
platform nest a few feet from the ground, on broken-down weeds and grasses, just 
