163. Numenius longirostris Wils. Long-billed Curlew.—Common during migrations; occasionally seen during the breeding season.
164. Tantalus loculator Linn. Wood Ibis.—This bird is common in all marshy localities near the Gulf Coast. I have seen it frequently in the marshes and ponds near Spring Creek and the Brazos, in company with Herons and other water fowl.
165. Platalea ajaja Linn. Roseate Spoon-bill.—Common in the breeding season. Never seen in companies, but always singly, associated with Herons, Ducks, etc. Particularly common on the prairie ponds in the northern part of Harris County, Texas.
166. Ardea herodias Linn. Great Blue Heron.—Quite regularly distributed, but nowhere common; breeds on trees near ponds in the woods.
167. Herodias egretta Gray. White Heron; Great White Egret.—Abundant summer resident; breeds. This beautiful bird is to be observed in numbers in all the prairie ponds. They breed in communities on bushes in swamps. The nests are bulky, built of sticks; the nesting cavity is very flat; eggs three or four in number. The birds begin to breed in the latter part of April.
168. Garzetta candidissima Bonap. Snowy Heron; Little White Heron.—Exceedingly abundant during a large part of the year. I have seen these birds by thousands in the marshes near the Brazos River and on the Gulf Coast. Large colonies breed in the marshes near Spring Creek, where they build their nests on bushes, or, more frequently, in the lower horizontal branches of forest trees, bordering ponds and marshes. None remain to winter.
169. Florida cœrulea Bd. Little Blue Heron.—This beautiful bird is exceedingly abundant in all suitable localities. Many are resident throughout the year, but most migrate further south in winter. They nest in large colonies in swamps and marshes overgrown thickly with bushes. I have always found the nest in the top of button-bushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis). Eggs three or four, in one case five, in number. I have seen hundreds of nests in one pond. They are built entirely of sticks without any lining. In the second week of May many eggs were already hatched.
170. Butorides virescens Bonap. Green Heron.—Common summer resident; breeds; never observed in flocks, but always in pairs or singly.
171. Hydranassa tricolor ludoviciana Ridgw. Louisiana Heron.—One specimen, shot May, 1880, on Spring Creek. Seems to be not very common. Breeds in the swampy woods.
172. Nyctiardea grisea nævia Allen. Black-crowned Night Heron.—Not common and very shy. Breeds in the swamps where other Herons have their nests.