144 
THE NATURALIST’S GUIDE. 
208. Ardetta exiliS; Gray. — Least Bittern, Very 
rare in summer. Mr. William Brewster has a specimen in 
his cabinet, taken on the Fresh Pond marshes in Belmont, 
August 11, 1868. 
209. Botaurus lentiginosus, Steph. — Bittern, 
Meadow Hen,” ‘‘ Indian Hen,” Dunkadoo.” Common 
summer resident. Breeds, nesting in inaccessible places 
in swamps and fresh marshes. Arrives early in April; 
leaves in October. This species is rare on the sea-shore. 
210. Bntorides virescens, Bon. — Green Heron,” 
Mud-Hen,” Poke,” Chalk-line.” Common summer 
resident. Breeds, nesting in thickets and thick woods, 
but more commonly on the sea-shore than in the interior. 
211. Nyctiardea Gardenii, Baird. — Night Heron, 
Qua-Bird,” “ Squak,” “ Gobly-gossit.” Common summer 
resident, breeding abundantly in communities, both on 
the coast and in the interior. The young, when able to 
fly, congregate on the sea-shore. Although nocturnal in 
habit, it sees well by day. Arrives early in April ; leaves 
in October. 
As substantiating the hypothesis concerning the luminous- 
ness of the peculiar spot on the breast of this Heron, I give 
the following, as related to me by Mrs. H. B. Farley, of 
Ipswich. I may state that Mrs. Farley, until after she had 
related the story, had no knowledge of any particular in- 
terest being attached to the fact she had discovered ; for 
this reason she was an unbiased observer, which gives the 
discovery additional importance. 
Three or four years ago I was sitting on the banks of 
Ipswich Biver, just at twilight, waiting for my brother to 
come for me in a boat to convey me home. I was keeping 
very quiet, when I saw a Heron alight within a few feet 
of me, on the edge of the water. He was joined by others, 
until there were about a dozen, then I observed that every 
one of them had a luminous spot on its breast. This 
