Ardetta exilis breeding habits of.
MASS. (Middlesex Co.) [Middlesex County, Massachusetts]
1875
July 10 [July 10, 1875] Clear and cool. Spent the forenoon in
sailing about the bay and took the 2.35
train for Boston. I forgot to mention
Sterna paradisea and Larus atricilla both
of which I saw yesterday off the mouth
of the harbor. The terns were not nearly
so abundant as last season.
  July 13 [July 13, 1875] Clear and warm. Ther. [Thermometer] 88 [degrees] at noon. In the
forenoon took a walk up through the swamps
to visit a goldfinch's nest found on
the 26th [June 26, 1875] (which by the way was to
day deserted and empty). In the lower or
brickyard swamp Shot started a [male] least
bittern which flew but a short distance &
as usual alighted in a bush where it sat
peering at me with outstretched neck and
the moment that I moved withdrawing
its head behind the leaves. After watching
it some little time I shot, and killed
it at long range. Being obliged to
make a long circuit to get to where it
fell what was my surprise to see
another [male] flying high up over the swamp
with legs drawn up behind, and proceeding
in a leisurely manner with steady flappings
[delete]like[/delete] in the manner of the heron tribe
generally. Before this bird was out of
sight a third rose some 50 yds off uttering
a loud incessant ca-ca-ca-ca as it got
up and continuing it some time from
the top of a thick alder where it perched.
This latter bird was a [female] and her
actions soon convinced me that she