54 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
possession a specimen of the White Ibis {Guar a alba) — family Ibididcn, 
which is said to have been captured in Pennsylvania about thirty years 
ag-o. In the museum at Lancaster city, there is a specimen of the 
Roseate Spoonbill {Ajaja ajaja) — family Plataleidce, which it is stated 
was captured over twenty -five years ag*o in Lancaster county. As none 
of these three species have, so far as I can learn, been observed in Penn- 
sylvania during’ the past quarter of a century, I do not consider that 
any of them are entitled to a place in this report. 
Suborder HERODIL Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Etc. 
Family ARDEID.^. Herons, Bitterns, Egrets. 
THE herons, etc. 
Birds ot this family — containing, it is said, about seventy-five species — are very 
generally dispersed throughout all parts of the globe. A few species wander to cold 
countries, but the great majority of these waders inhabit the lower temperate and 
tropical regions. In different localities throughout the United States, about fifteen 
species and varieties (local or geographical races) are recorded by modern writers ; 
of these nine species have been taken, during recent years, in Pennsylvania. Some 
species occur witli us as regular summer residents, while others are observed here 
only as transitory visitors in the spring and fall migrations. These birds frequent 
muddy banks of rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds ; they are also found about swampy 
meadows and marshy places, particularly if the latter are well supplied with pools 
of shallow water, protected by trees or bushes. They often remain quiet or inactive 
in daytime, but as evening approaches, or in the night, they go out, like the owls, 
in quest of food, which is secured by rapid, dexterous thrusts of their long, spear- 
like bills. Birds of this group subsist chiefly on various kinds of fishes (fish meas- 
uring nearly a foot in length are often swallowed by large herons), frogs and snakes ; 
and they also eat other kinds of animal food, such as large insects, field-mice, lizards, 
cray-fish, leeches, etc., and some of the larger herons occasionally catch wood-rats, 
and young birds of other species which breed about their favorite feeding resorts^ 
With the exception of the Bitterns, these birds are gregarious, particularly when 
breeding, and in the southern states where herons and egrets are abundant, they 
often breed together in great numbers, frequently in company with cormorants, 
water turkeys and ibises. The herons and egrets build rude and bulky nests of 
sticks and twigs, in trees or bushes ; the bluish or greenish colored and unspotted 
eggs vary from two to six in number. The sharp, rasping cries of these birds, are 
often uttered when feeding, also if they are frightened, and frequently when flying, 
either when migrating or when going to and from their feeding places. Birds of 
this family are known by the following characters : Long neck and legs ; bill long, 
straight, tapering, acute and furnished with sharp cutting edges. Lores naked and 
usually, particularly in the breeding season, bright colored ; the head is rather long, 
narrow and flat on the sides. When breeding these birds frequently have back of 
head, the lower neck, back or scapulars, beautifully ornamented with long plumes. 
Herons and egrets have three pairs of powder-down tracts, one on lower part of back, 
the second on lower belly, and a third on breast. Bitterns have two pairs of these 
tracts, one on lower back, the other on breast ; toes long and slender ; the claws are 
long and curved, especially that of hind toe, and the middle claw has a fine comb 
on inner edge. The hind toe is inserted on a level with three in front ; outer toes 
usually connected with middle by a small web at base, others free. Tail very short, 
twelve feathers, except in bitterns, which have only ten. 
