2 2 Ridgway on birds observed in Knox Co., Indiana. 
fourteen was met with. When surprised they fly into the swamp, where, 
alighting on the trees, they are secure from pursuit. The inhabitants 
pay no attention whatever to the game laws, and it is owing entirely to 
the safe retreat afforded by the swamp that the Turkeys have not been 
more nearly exterminated. 
Virginia Quail (Ortyx virginiana). — Almost exterminated by the 
severe winter of 1880-81. 
Green Heron ( Butorides virescens). — Abundant. A small colony 
had their nests in a second-growth thicket, some distance from the swamp. 
The nests (seven in number) were placed in saplings at 12-15 feet from 
the ground, and, with two exceptions, contained five eggs each. 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyclberodius violacens). — Abundant, 
a colony of perhaps a hundred pa.irs having their nests among the tall ash 
and sweet-gum trees in a creek bottom, near the edge of the pond. The 
nests were mostly at a considerable height, and few of them readily 
accessible. They had just begun to lay, and were frightened away from 
the locality during a “ wet spell” by squirrel hunters. A female Was shot 
from her nest April 27, and a perfect egg cut from her oviduct. Several 
fine specimens of the bird were secured, and it was noticed that the 
delicate, almost luminous, yellowish buff of the forehead very soon faded. 
American Woodcock ( Philohela minor). — Common, breeding. 
Solitary Sandpiper (Rhyacophilus solitarius). — Common, and un- 
doubtedly breeding, about small ponds in the woods. 
Sora Rail ( Porzana Carolina ). — Common among the sedges in the 
swamp. 
Florida Gallinule {Gallinala galeata). — Probably common in the 
swamp. A fine specimen with its neck broken was picked up on the 
railroad track near the depot in Vincennes, having been killed by flying 
against the telegraph wires. 
American Coot ( Fulica americana). — Exceedingly numerous in the 
swamp during latter half of April and early part of May, but toward the 
last of the latter month the greater part had disappeared. 
Mallard ( Anas bosc.as). — Very numerous at the time of our arrival 
and for a week or two afterward. A few pairs are said to breed in the 
swamp. 
Shoveller Duck ( Spatula clypeata ). — Much the most numerous of 
the Ducks at the time of my arrival (April 15). 
Blue-winged Teal hierquedula discors). — Abundant, even up to 
the latter part of May, and undoubtedly breeding. 
Summer Duck (Aix sponsa). — Common and breeding in the swamp. 
Hooded Merganser (. Lophodytes cucullatus), — More common than 
A. sponsa , breeding, like that species, in hollow trees in the swamp. 
Thick-billed Grebe (JPodilymbus podiceps). — Very common in the 
swamp, where it was breeding. 
At the time of my arrival the Ducks had mostly departed for the North, 
while the Geese had entirely disappeared. Both had passed the winter in 
