64 ALTRICIAL G-RALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



In the adult plumage, this species is probably considerably darker than N. violaceus, with the 

 black stripes of the upper jjarts less distinct, perhaps obsolete. 



The Yellow-crowned Heron is a southern sj^ecies, not known to breed north of 

 the Carolinas on the Atlantic coast, though occasionally wandering much farther 

 north, both on the Atlantic coast and in the interior. It is found along the whole 

 Gulf coast to Mexico, occurs both on the eastern and the western coasts of Mexico 

 and of Central America, and has been received from South America. On the Pacific 

 coast it has not been taken, to our knowledge, so far north as California, though abun- 

 dant on the Marias and Socorro Islands and the corresponding coast. It is found in 

 and breeds in several of the West India Islands. Professor Xewton mentions it as 

 occurring, but as not very common, in St. Croix, where it inhabits the mangrove swamps 

 in the daytime, but leaves them at night to feed in the interior of the island. It is 

 presumed to be resident and to breed in that island, but this has not been positively 

 ascertained. Mr. E. C. Taylor foimd it abundant in the Oropuche lagoon, in Trini- 

 dad, but he did not meet with any elsewhere on that island. Leotaud also speaks of 

 this Heron as being quite common in Trinidad, where it is both resident and known 

 to breed. Its food, for which it searches in the night, is not different from that of 

 other Herons. During the daytime it keeps itself closely concealed among the man- 

 grove trees, which fill all the inlets from the sea. At times this bird is very fat, and 

 is then quite good eating. Unlike the ISTight Heron, it can never be reconciled to 

 captivity, but always retains its wild and xuitamable character. It is mentioned by 

 Dr. Gundlach as a common resident species in Cuba, where he obtained its eggs. It 

 is not given by Mr. Gosse, who probably confounded it Avitli the Gardeni, as among 

 the birds of Jamaica, but is mentioned by Mr. March as of frequent occurrence on 

 that island. It is knoAvn as the Guinea-hen Qviok, by which term IMr. Gosse supposed 

 the young of the Gardeni to be designated. Mr. Salvin states that specimens of 

 this bird were among the skins collected by Mr. Leyland in Honduras ; and he after- 

 ward reported that he himself found it not uncommon on the Pacific sea-coast of 

 Guatemala. It is an occasional visitant of Bermuda, both in spring and in fall. It 

 is of rare and accidental occurrence along the Atlantic coast, even as far as Massa- 

 chusetts. Mr. N. Yickary, of Lynn, obtained a fine specimen that had been killed 

 within the limits of that city in October, 1<S62. Mr. George N. LaAvrence includes it 

 in his list of birds obtained near ]S"ew York City ; and Mr. Giraud states that it occa- 

 sionally extends its visits as far north as Long Island. It is there of entirely noc- 

 turnal habit, keeping hidden in the marshes during the day, and feeding chiefly at 

 night. Professor F. H. SnoAV records the capture of an adult female Yellow-crowned 

 Night Heron and three young birds at iSTeosho Falls, Kansas, by Colonel N. S. Goss. 

 The female was in full Ijreeding ])lumage. One Avas also taken by Mrs. MaxAvell, in 

 Colorado. Mr. Dresser found it more abundant in SoutliAvestern Texas than the 

 common Night Heron, but none Avere seen about Matamoras until August. Mr. AVil- 



dai-k brownish slato, becoming gradually glaucous-iilnmbeous on the tertials, remiges, rump, upper tail- 

 coverts, and tail ; elongated scajjular jilumes dark iilumbeous, without black mesial strijje ; wing-coverts 

 narrowly edged with light fulvous or creamy bnti' ; border of the wing fulvous-white, spotted along the 

 inner edge with dark plumbeous. Neck brownish slate, the foreneck longitudinally striped with pale 

 ochraceous ; remaiinng lower parts similar, but more profusely streaked with light oehraceous and white. 

 Under-surface of the wings nearly uniform plumbeous. 



Wing, 10.40 ; tail, 4.50 ; culmen, 2.60 ; depth of bill through nostril, .80 ; tarsus, 3.40 ; nnddle toe, 

 2.30 ; bare portion of tibia, 1.50. 



[Described from the type in Mus. Salvin & (Jodnjan ; Indefatigable I. Galapagos, Aug. 30, 1878 ; \)r. 

 A. Habel. Leugth, 21.00 ; extent, 38.00. Iris, orange ; bill, black ; legs and feet, green.] 



