NATURAL HISTORY. 
415 
157. Grus canadensis , (Linn.,) Temrn. — Sand-hill Crane. Exceed- 
ingly ,rare; perhaps only accidental. (Specimen obtained.) 
158. Garzetta candidissima,' ( Jacq.,) Bon. — Snowy Heron. Notun- 
common about the marshes of the Potomac in early fall. 
159. Herodias egretta, (Gm.,) Gray. — White Egret. Occasionally 
seen along the river in the late summer and early fall months. 
160. Ardea herodias, Linn. — Great Blue Heron. “Blue Crane.’ 7 
Found at intervals during the summer and early autumn along the 
marshes bordering the river. 
161. Florida ccerulea , (Linn.,) Bd. — Little Blue Heron. Bare, per- 
haps only accidental, towards the end of summer. (Specimen ob- 
tained.) 
162. Ardetta exilis , (Gm.,) Gray. — Least Bittern. Summer resi- 
dent; rather uncommon. Arrives early in May; departs late in Sep- 
tember. Found chiefly in the Zizania aquatica marshes. 
163. Botaurus lentiginosus , Steph. — Bittern. “Indian Hen. 77 
“Sage Hen. 77 Besident all the year. Common. Only heron that 
winters here. 
164. Butorides virescens , (Linn.,) Bon. — Green Heron. “Fly-up- 
the-creek. 77 Summer resident. Most abundant of the herons. Ar- 
rives 1st of May; remains until middle of September. Numerous 
about Bock creek and the marshes and creeks of the Potomac. 
165. Nyctiardea gardeni , (Gm.,) Bd. — Night Heron. Bare; seen 
occasionally during the latter part of summer. 
166. Gharadrius virginicus , Bofck. — Golden Plover. “Bull-head 
Plover. 77 Spring and autumn visitant. Passes quickly through in 
early spring; is more numerous in autumn, during latter part of Octo- 
ber and whole of November, about fields, ploughed land, &c. 
167. AEgialitis ( Oxyechus) vociferus , (Linn.,) Cass. — Killdeer Plover. 
“Killdee. 77 Besident all the year, or nearly so. Most numerous 
early in spring and late in autumn; generally seen in flocks, on 
meadows, commons, ploughed lands, &c. 
[ AEgialitis semipalmatus is undoubtedly an inhabitant of the Dis- 
trict.] 
168. Philohela minor , (Gm.,) Gray. — Woodcock. Besident all the 
year. Common. Frequent chiefly “Woodcock brakes 77 and moist 
cornfields; and in early spring low woods and thickets. 
169. Gallinago wilsonii, (Temm.,) Bon. — Wilson’s Snipe. “Eng- 
lish 77 or “Jack” Snipe. Spring and autumn visitants. Abundant. 
Pass through early in the spring and return in the fall the first week 
in September, and remain about two weeks. In flocks in the fall. 
[Macrorhamphus griseus , though we have not detected it, is doubtless 
an inhabitant of the District. ] 
[. Micropalama himdntopus may very possibly be hereafter detected,] 
170. Actodromas maculata , (Yieill.,) Cass. — Pectoral Sandpiper. 
‘ ‘ Grass Snipe.” Spring and autumn visitant. Barely seen in spring. 
Not uncommon in autumn from September 25 to November. Low, 
moist, grassy meadows, boggy commons, &c. Seen singly as often 
as in flocks. 
171. Actodromas minutilla , (Yieill.,) Coues. — Least Sandpiper. 
