Nehrling on Birds of Southeastern Texas. 
223 
with Herons, Ducks, etc. Particularly common on the prairie ponds in 
the northern part of Harris County, Texas.' 
166. Ardea herodias Linn. Great Blue Heron. — Quite regularly 
distributed, but nowhere common ; breeds on trees near ponds in the woods. 
167. Herodias egretta Gray. White Heron; Great White 
Egret. — Abundant summer resident; breeds. This beautiful bird is to 
be observed in numbers in all the prairie ponds. They breed in commun- 
ities on bushes in swamps. The nests are bulky, built of sticks ; the nest- 
ing cavity is very flat ; eggs three or four in number. The birds begin to 
breed in the latter part of April. 
168. Garzetta candidissima Bonap. Snowy Heron ; Little White 
Heron. — Exceedingly abundant during a large part of the year. I have 
seen these birds by thousands in the marshes near the Brazos River 
and on the Gulf Coast. Large colonies breed in the marshes near Spring 
Creek, where they build their nests on bushes, or, more frequently, in the 
lower horizontal branches of forest trees, bordering ponds and marshes. 
None remain to winter. 
169. Florida coerulea Bd. Little Blue Heron. — This beautiful 
bird is exceedingly abundant in all suitable localities. Many are resident 
throughout the year, but most migrate further south in winter. They 
nest in large colonies in swamps and marshes overgrown thickly with 
bushes. I have always found the nest in the top of button-bushes ( Cepha- 
lanthus occidentalism . Eggs three or four, in one case five, in number. I 
have seen hundreds of nests, in one pond. They are built entirely of 
sticks without any lining. In the second week of May many eggs were 
already hatched. 
170. Butorides virescens Bonap. Green Heron. — Common sum- 
mer resident ; breeds ; never observed in flocks, but always in pairs or singly. 
17 1. Hydranassa tricolor ludoviciana Ridgiv. Louisiana Heron. 
— One specimen, shot May, 1880, on Spring Creek. Seems to be not very 
common. Breeds in the swampy woods. 
172. Nyctiardea grisea naevia Allen. Black-crowned Night 
Heron. — Not common and very shy. Breeds in the swamps where other 
Herons have their nests. 
173. Botaurus lentiginosus Stepk. American Bittern. — Occurs 
during migrations ; none observed in the breeding season or in winter. 
174. Ardetta exilis Gray. Least Bittern. — Common during mi-, 
grations ; rare in summer ; breeds in the marshes of tule reeds and water 
shrubs, such as Cephalanthus occidentalis and Pinckneya ptibescens , in 
company with Herons and other water fowl. 
175. Grus americana Tetmn. Whooping Crane. — From November 
to the end of March these beautiful birds are exceedingly abundant on 
all the low prairies in the vicinity of Houston. Very shy. 
176. Grus canadensis Temm. Sandhill Crane. — Even more 
abundant than the preceding. Observed flocks of many hundreds on the 
low prairies in the western and northern parts of Harris County. Very shy. 
177. Pcrzana Carolina Bd. Carolina Rail; Sora. — Seen in 
summer; breeds, but I have not discovered the nest. 
