248 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVI 
This storm continued, and the cold was so intense that a thin ice formed 
on the small still pools, making the trip to the rookery impossible. No Snowy 
Heron were seen, but a few White-faced Glossy Ibis were noted, and in as much 
as the Snowy Heron precede the Ibis from a week to ten days, it is reasonable 
to suppose, that they too were somewhere present. 
Bear Eiver Marshes, April 23, 1912. — Snowy Heron rookery visited. Many 
nests completed, but no eggs. Number of birds noted indicated about thirty 
percent increase. 
Black Sloughs, Salt Lake County, May 25, 1912. — Dr. D. More Lindsay 
and Morton Cheeseman brought us the information that they had found both 
the Snowy Heron and the White-faced Glossy Ibis breeding at our old stamp- 
ing grounds in the Black Sloughs; so Edward Treganza immediately set out 
to ascertain the size of this new colony. About fifty pairs of Snowy Heron and 
one hundred pairs of Ibis were found nesting together, all the nests being newly 
constructed in the young tule growth. This is the first record we have of the 
breeding of this bird south of the Bear River, Boxelder County ; for each year 
since 1903 we have thoroughly worked the marsh country of Salt Lake County, 
especially that portion traversed by the overflow of the Salt Lake Drainage 
Canal, and known as the Black Sloughs. 
1913. — This year we decided not to disturb the Snowy Heron in either the 
old or new colony, but three times we went close enough to the rookeries to 
note a marked increase in numbers. 
Bear River, Boxelder County, Utah, May 2, 1914. — This date found us in 
the marsh country destined for the rookeries. Within half a mile we noted a 
number of Snowy Herons rise at our right, whereupon' we immediately secured 
a boat and set out to make investigation. We nosed into the dense tule growth 
to moor our boat, and had just started to break our way. With the first crackle 
of the reeds, head after head was seen to rise, long cane-like necks stretched 
up for inquiry, pure white birds, and in close proximity an iridescent black 
one; the Ibis with their curved bills looking for all the world like quaint old 
Jews, lacking but spectacles and a skull cap. Another breaking of reeds, and 
the whole colony rose en masse, a worrying confusion of wings and squawks 
and dangling legs ; and for once we were actually convinced that white was 
black and black was white, so confounded were Heron and Ibis. This colony 
covered an area twenty yards wide by one hundred yards long, and contained 
no less than one hundred and fifty pairs of Snowy Heron, and about one hun- 
dred pairs of White-faced Glossy Ibis. All of the Ibis nests and many of the 
Herons’ were under construction, while some of the latter contained four to 
five fresh eggs. Having traversed this portion of the marsh at least once an- 
nually, we were surprised to find this new and larger colony, for previous 
years it contained only ducks and a very small colony of Black-crowned Night 
Heron. All the nests were constructed of the growing reeds and rushes. 
Though quite dense, there was little matted down growth of years previous, 
thus much resembling the site of Black Sloughs, Salt Lake County. 
Bear River Marshes, Boxelder County, May 9, 1914. — This day we were in 
quest of Long-billed Curlew. Neither old or new heronry was visited, but 
many birds were seen circling above the marsh. 
Bear River Marshes, Boxelder County, May 16, 1914. — The new colony of 
Ibis and Heron was visited. All the Heron nests now seemed to be occupied 
by sitting birds on full clutches. No nest was found to contain more than five 
eggs, while about thirty percent contained only four. 
