Part 16

EGRET. 196. Herodias egretta. 41 inches.

This is our most beautiful pure white Heron; one which has persistently been hunted for its beautiful plumes for millinery purposes. They usually breed in colonies with several others of the Heron family.

Nest.—Is generally a frail platform in small trees or bushes over the water in which they lay three or four light bluish green colored eggs (2.25 × 1.45). Breeds in Oregon and California.

SNOWY EGRET. 197. Egretta candidissima. 24 inches.

Plumage white; in breeding season with numerous recurved plumes growing from the middle of the back; long crest of plumes on back of the head, and on the breast. Bill black, greenish at the base; legs black and feet yellow. With the protection which has been placed on these birds and the large breeding places in their favorite locations made into Government reservations we hope to see these become more abundant within a few years. Their nesting habits are the same as above, only the eggs are smaller (1.80 × 1.25).

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 202. Nycticorax nycticorax nævius. 24 inches.

A well-known bird often called “quawk” from the note which it makes during its evening flights. They are usually found nesting in large colonies, while in some places a few secluded pairs nest; a favorite place being among pine trees on the edge of muddy ponds.

Nest.—Is built of sticks, with no lining, and placed in the higher limbs of the trees, not unusual to find a dozen or more in each tree. Eggs are pale greenish color (2.00 × 1.40).

YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 203. Nyctanassa violacea. 23 inches.

The head of this species is adorned with three long, rounded white plumes; in life these plumes are rarely separated, but are nested together so that they appear to be as one. On the back they also have long lanceolate gray plumes; crown and a comet shaped patch under the eye of a yellowish white. As dusk approaches, these birds start out from their roosting places, and, with slow, measured flaps, wing their way to their feeding grounds, which are fresh water bogs, their food consisting of insects, frogs, snails and small fish.

WHOOPING CRANE—Family Gruidæ. 204. Grus americana. 50 inches.

This is the largest of the family in America. The plumage of the adults is pure white, with black primaries; the bare parts of the head and face are carmine; eyes yellow; bill and feet black. These great birds are not uncommon on the prairies of the interior of America.

Nest.—Either upon the solid earth or marshy places on the bogs, the nest being very bulky, a mass of grass and weeds two or three feet in diameter. They lay two eggs of a brownish buff color blotched with shades of brown and gray (3.75 × 2.50).

Range.—Interior of North America, breeding to the Arctic regions and wintering to the Gulf states and southward.

LITTLE BROWN CRANE. 205. Grus canadensis. 36 inches.

This smaller variety is very much like the Sandhill Crane, but more brown, especially on the wings. When in flight this family always carry the neck fully extended, while the Herons draw the neck back between the wings. Unlike herons the young birds are born covered with down, and can run about as soon as they appear.

Range.—In northern Canada, where it breeds.

LIGHT-FOOTED RAIL.—Family Rallidæ. 210.1. Rallus levipes. 10 inches.

They inhabit the grassy marshes, and keep closely concealed if any danger is lurking about the locality where they are. They are very quick to get away in the tall grass if startled, and rarely take to the wing for protection. This species is found about the marshes in southern California.

CALIFORNIA CLAPPER RAIL. 210. Rallus obsoletus. 15 inches.

Color above olive-grayish, with no strong black markings; cinnamon colored breast. It is an abundant species on nearly all of the marshes along the coast. They are excellent runners, and are very difficult to start from the marsh grass in which they are concealed. Its nest is built on the ground on the higher parts of the marsh, where it is comparatively dry, building it of grass and strips of rushes.

Nest.—They lay from four to nine eggs of a light buff color, spotted and blotched with brown and lilac (1.75 × 1.25). The young of this family are born covered with a shining black down, and remain in the nest but a few hours.

VIRGINIA RAIL. 212. Rallus virginianus. 10 inches.

Back handsomely patterned with black, olive-brown and gray; wing coverts grayish brown, neck and breast cinnamon brown, brightest on the breast. Sides sharply barred with black and white; chin and line over the eye white, side of head slaty color. Like others of this species, it is found in either the fresh or salt marshes, but more abundant in the fresh.

Nest.—Of grasses on the ground or in tufts of rushes; eggs of a creamy white spotted and blotched with brown and lilac; six to ten are the number laid (1.25 × .90).

Range.—North America, breeding from British Columbia to southern California and the Gulf of Mexico.

SORA RAIL. 214. Porzana carolina. 9 inches.

Adults with throat and face black; young with no black on the head. Unless disturbed they pass the greater part of the day in quiet and do most of their feeding after dusk, when their clucking notes may be heard all over the marshes.