ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — NYCTICORAX. 



65 



In "Haud-listof Birds," Vol. III. p. 33, Dr. G. R. Gray enumerates three Old World species 

 besides iV. " nijcticorax^' (yriseus). These are, " caledonica, Gii.," New Caledonia; " : manillensis, 

 ViG.," Philippines and Sulomon Islands, and ^' crassirostris, ViG.," Island of Bonin. These per- 

 haps represent races of one species, although we have seen only the first named, N. caledonicus 



N. gi-iseus ncevivs. 



is strictly congeneric with N. griseus, with which it agrees very closely in the details of form, in 

 size, in general system of coloration, and in the character of the occipital plumes. As to colora- 

 tion, the pattern is the same, except that the greenish black of the back and scapulars is wanting, 

 while that of the pileum extends quite to the bill, there being, therefore, no white frontlet. The 

 cinereous of N. griseus, however, is entirely replaced by a fine cinnamon-rufous, which gives the two 

 birds quite a different aspect. In the young plumage they are more similar, though still readily 

 distinguishable. 



Nycticorax griseus naevius. 



THE AMERICAN BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 



Botcmrus ncnvius, Briss. Orn. V. 1760, 462. 



Ardca nccvia, Bodd. Tabl. P. E. 17S3, 51 bis (ex PI. Enl. 939.) 



Nyctiardea grisea, var. nccvia, Allex, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. III. 1872, 182. — Cotjes, Key, 1872, 



269; Check List, 1873, no. 458; B. N. ^V. 1874, 523. 

 Nyctiardea grisea nccvia, EiDOW. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 495. — CouES, Check List, 2d ed. 



1882, no. 664. 

 Ardea Jioadli, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 630. 

 Ardca cana, Gmel. t. c. 643. 



Ardca Gardcni, Gmel. t. c. 645, no. 81 (based on the Gardenicm Heron of Penn. and Lath.). 

 Nrjctiardea Garcleni, Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 678 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 495. 

 Ardea discolor, Xutt. ilass. Oni. IT. 1834, 54. 

 Nycticorax americcmus, Boxap. Comp. List, 1838, 48. 

 Nycticorax vulgaris, D'Orb. Ois. Cuba, 1839, 208. 

 Nycticorax griseus {■^axi), Reichenow, J. f. 0. 1877, 237. 



