26 
1868. 
Ardea vireseens. 
Middlesex County, Mass. 
May 5. 
Three in the Pine Swamp. 
June 23. 
Two nests in th e Pine Swamp, each containing young 
about a v/^eek old. The female of one nest walked slowly 
off among the twigs and took flight in silence, but the 
parent of the other v/as more courageous, alighting in a 
small tree almost directly above my head, walking grado- 
fully through the branches, and uttering a cry sounding 
like keow repeated four or five times in succession and 
closely resembling the song of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 
Her mate v/as shyer, keeping beyond gun range and reitera¬ 
ting a hoarse hough which sounded like the hoot of the 
Barred Owl. The young when taken from the nest wilked 
vrith all the grace and elegance of their parents; their 
skin was of a light green color scantily covered with 
white down. 
« m 
Pound two bests both of which contained young about 
a week old; the nests were built in birch trees, at the 
height of about fifteen feet, and were flimsy affairs 
loosely constructed of sticks (Pino Swamp), 
July 11. 
They pass over oub garden every evening on their way 
to the salt marshes, flying swiftly, with the neck 
stretched out stiffly like a Duck’s; Unlike the Night 
Herons they are never seen in flocks. 
Oct, 16, 
One, the last. 
1871. 
May 2. 
One. 
" 6. 
Five in full breeding plumage. 
1869, 
May 28. 
Nest with five eggs slightly incubated. Placed in 
a sv/inging birch at the height of about two feet; female 
remained on the nest till I was nearly under the tree. 
1870. 
May 24. 
' 
Four fresh eggs in an old nest repaired. This nest 
has now been occupied by the ame pair three seasons in 
spite of my having robbed this and a second nest of theirs 
last spring. Both birds showed much solicitude for their 
eggs alighting near and keeping up their croaking cries. 
1875. 
May 8. 
Started one in a pond-hole surrounded by button 
bushes (Concord), 
1879. 
Apr. 26. 
One, the first. 
