54 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIOXES. 



return in the early spring, in flocks of from tAventy to fifty. Their migrations are 

 made at night; in the fall, however, they fly singly, or in small flocks. In the 

 suburbs of Charleston, and in the neighborhood of other Southern cities, this Heron 

 is known to build its nest close to houses, and even to raise its brood on the trees of 

 a garden. 



Mr. Moore confirms the statement of Mr. Audubon, that a few of this species 

 remain in Florida during the Avinter. On the Sarasota some Avere seen throughout 

 most of the Avinter ; and as this species ahvays frequents close and tangled Avoods, 

 if the spot is supplied Avith Avater and att'ords abundant food, it may exist in con- 

 siderable numbers, and yet escape notice. 



This Heron has its oavu peculiar manner of searching for its food, which in some 

 respects differs from that of all the other kinds. It fishes from the shore or from a 

 log, root, snag, or shelving rock, preferring not to wade into the Avater or to stand in 

 it; still, on seeing a tempting morsel, it Avill quit its point of observation and Avalk 

 into the water toAvards it. Its approach at such times is peculiar ; though the Louis- 

 iana Heron seems occasionally to copy its style, except that the latter is constantly 

 in the Avater at the time of fishing. The Green Heron, hoAvever, on seeing a fish, 

 crouches Ioav on its legs, draAvs back its head, crooks its neck, creeps slyly along, 

 laying its tarsi almost doAvn on the rock or the groimd, carries the bill level Avith the 

 top of the back, and Avhen near enough darts the l)ill forAvard towards it, sometimes 

 Avith su.ch force as to topple forward a step or tAvo. It seldom immerses its head in 

 fishing, is always disposed to steal upon its prey in a sly, cat-like, crouching manner, 

 remaining quite motionless for a long time, and often advancing so sloAvly and 

 stealthily that even a keen-eyed observer Avould hardly perceive the motion. Its 

 antipathy to and jealousy of its oavu species at the feeding-grounds is decided. Its 

 eggs are found from the 18th of April to the 1st of June ; there are rarely more than 

 four in a nest. 



Two eggs of this species, from Lake Koskonong, Wisconsin, in my collection 

 (jSTo. 1965) measure, one, 1.45 l)y 1.20 inches; the other, 1.40 by 1.12 inches. They 

 are of oval form, slightly rounded, and equal at either end. Their color is like that 

 of the Heron family — a light Avash of Prussian blue strongly tinged Avith green, 

 rather brighter than in other kinds, and of a lighter shade. 



Genus NYCTICORAX, Stephens. 



Nydicorax, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XI. xi. 1819, G08 (type, Ardca nydicorax, Linn.). 

 Nydiardea, Savains. Classif. B. ii. 1837, 354 (siiiiie type). 



Gen. Char. Medium-sized herons of very short tliick Iniild, large, thick lieads, and short 

 tarsi. The plumage exceedingly different in tlie adult and vfumg, but the sexes similar. Adults 

 Avith two or three exceedingly long thread-lilve, white occipital plumes. 



Bill very stout, tlie depth throu,L,di the base being more than one fourtli tlie culmen ; the latter 

 nearly straight for the basal two thirds, then gently curved to the tip ; lower edge of the man- 

 dibular rami nearly ."-traight ; gonys nearly straight, very slightly ascending ; maxillary tomium 

 decidedly concave, Avith a very convex outline just forward of the rictus. Mental apex reaching 

 more than half Avay from the centre of the eye to the point of the bill, and to beyond the anterior 

 end of the nostril ; malar apex falling a little short of the frontal apex. Tarsi a little longer than 

 the middle toe, its smtellce hexafjonal in front ; lateral toes nearly equal, but the outer the longer ; 

 hallux less than lialf the middle toe; bare jwrtion of tihia shorter than the hallux. Inner Avebs 

 of two outer primaries distinctly emarginated near the end. Tail of twelve broad, moderately 

 hard feathers, as in the typical Herons. 



