Scott on Birds observed in Florida . 
21 
the nest, for only in one nest out of fifty just finished was a single 
egg found. The specimens, as in the last case, were both males 
and females: “Lores and base of bill, deep, dark blue with 
no trace of orange or any shade of yellow. No yellow on bill 
or face at any point. The iris, in nine cases, deep bright red ; 
in the other three, red, with a tinge of yellowish. Later in the 
season, about April ist, some females show yellowish about the 
bill and have yellow irides, but the males are still as above de- 
scribed.” * 
I found the Yellow-crowned Night Heron ( Nyctiardea vio - 
laced) not uncommon at Clearwater, and also secured a series of 
the species at Panasofkee Lake. Mr. Devereux found the Least 
Bittern (Ar delta exilis) breeding very commonly at Clear- 
water early in April. 
The most common smajl Tern noted on the Gulf Coast through- 
out the winter was Forster’s Tern ( K Sler?ta forsteri ) , and until ear- 
ly spring all obtained were in the “ havelli ” stage. They were 
abundant during my stay at the mouth of the Withlacoochee 
River, and were noted daily at Clearwater, where early in Feb- 
ruary I obtained individuals in full plumage. Mr. Devereux 
obtained the Least Tern ( Sterna super ciliaris) breeding very 
commonly in May. 
All the Ducks noted by Mr. Allen were obtained, and, in ad- 
dition, a single specimen of the Ring-necked Duck ( Fuligula 
collaris) at Panasofkee Lake, where I noted the species on two 
occasions. At the mouth of Withlacoochee River, in January, 
I observed a single Buffle-headed Duck ( Clangula albeola ) , a 
male in full plumage. 
* [These observations are of special interest as giving the first account of the color- 
ation of the face and bill in this species in the breeding season based on Florida exam- 
ples. Mr. C. B. Cory has observed the same conditions among the Louisiana Herons 
met with by him at the Bahama Islands (see Birds of the Bahama Islands, 1880, pp. 
i68, 169, plate, and “ Oologist,” Vol. V, p. 79, Dec., 1880), and finding no account of 
similar features in relation to this species as observed elsewhere has made this seasonal 
phase of coloration in these parts the basis of a new species, named by him Ardea 
cyanirostris. — J. A. ALLEN.] 
