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have taken about two hundred and seventy 
eggs of this bird and have always found 
from three to six eggs in a full set. In 
only two cases have I found six, and I 
consider that an unusually large number ; 
but five is very common. In my last ex¬ 
pedition the sets were as follows: nine of 
five eggs, nine of four, three of three, 
three of two, (all fresh), and one of six, 
besides a single egg.—Morgan K. Bur- 
num, Syracuse , N. Y° *°- VM. An*. 1882.p./«7 
1947 . Cranes and Cormorants. Ibid.. No. 7 , July, i»»B. — iNesun 
Ardea herodias and Phalacrocorax dilofhus. ; 
403 . Malheur Lake. Oregon. By Capt. Chas. E. Bendire, U. S. A. 
Ibid ., pp. 129 - 131 , 137, 138 .-Description of the lake and of the nest¬ 
ing there of the Great Blue Heron, White Pelican and Double-crested 
Cormorant, with measurements of eggs, etc. X. ■ ) : , 
409 . Great Blue Heronry. By Morgan K. Barnum. Ibid., P- M7; 
At Syracuse, N. Y.; about 270 sets of eggs taken. U » "" '•* * if “ 
54 . Nesting of the Great Blue Heron in the West. By Elliott Coues. « •, 
XI p. 391 .- An account o£ its nesting along the Colorado River on 
shelves of rock in the cliffs bordering the river. - J. A. A. - Ul -fetf - - 1 - • 
, w _ Q of 
ahang©, Vol.1.1 
TV 
1 nest containing six! We went at just the right 
t time to find full sets and the eggs fresh. 
Their average measurement is 2.63 by 1.75 
inches. John found one abnormal egg which 
measured but 1.66 by 1.34. These eggs are pale 
greenish blue, shells not very rough, and general¬ 
ly oval, although they sometimes vary from this 
shape. 
At this season there are few other birds in the 
heronry itself. A few small flocks of Black¬ 
birds wander in and Woodpeckers rap the trees. 
A little earlier, and in other parts of the swamp, 
many Black Ducks are found, and later, many 
Wood Ducks build in holes their feather-lined 
nests. 
When a gun is first fired in the swamp, hun¬ 
dreds of terrified Herons rise off their nests, utter¬ 
ing from their long throats most deafening 
squawks quite similar to the quack of a duck, 
but coarser and much louder. You can see them 
everywhere anxiously flying over the tops of the 
trees, with their necks reefed and their long legs 
held closely together and thrust straight out be¬ 
hind. They are now easily shot with a long 
reaching gun and many could be killed, still one 
; is surprised, when he considers the size of the 
; marks, to see how many he fails to bring down. 
I I want some for their skins, so am prepared to 
j shoot the next one that came along. It is but a 
; moment before I see a fine specimen with broad 
pinions, approaching. Ilis neck is reefed, ner- j 
vously he turns his crested head from side to I 
side, trying with his sharp yellow eyes to catch j 
sight of the hostile collectors below. 1 raised my j 
gun to fire, the Heron sees the movement, when ' * 
suddenly giving a loud squawk, he changes his j 
course and strives to escape by vigorously beating : 
the air with his wings. But too late. A fatal 
pellet has crushed through his wing-bone and the j 
heavy body, unsupported, falls crashing through j 
the bare limbs and far down to the water with a ' 
loud splash. I hasten to catch the wounded bird, j 
he sees me coming and raising on his stilt like j 
legs first attempts to make off. But the wounded ! 
Heron soon finds that he is overtaken ; then with ! . 
broken wing drooping, he stands and stretching j 
up his long neck with its feathers all on end, and | 
erecting his wavy crest, the sharp bill being j 
partly opened, in a rasping voice he bids defiance. | 
He is certainly'a fierce looking bird, and as he i 
stands there with ruffled feathers, a beautiful one. 
Arming myself with a club, I cautiously approach 
and striking the towering bead a sharp blow, lay ! 
him quivering on the water. Such is the mercy 
of science ! 
Up to this period, May 15, the birds have not 
1993 
Crane 
Breeding Habits of Ardea Herodias as seen during a Visit to 
To-wn. By[R.]B.[Trouslot.] Ibid., No. 6 , Jan., 1886 , p. 8 .. 
lioosier Batusalist j Vol B la 
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