58 



WADING BIRDS. 



at length, seen dusky above, with a pale, rufous white stripe in the 

 centre of each feather. The wings and tail put on the bluish-grey 

 tint of the adult, and the coverts are all tiptwitha pencil shaped spot 

 of white. Eelow also the plumage becomes a shade paler. The iris is 

 orange, and the pupil very large. These were killed in October. 



I have ventured to consider the Kwa Bird as a different species 

 from the Night Heron of Europe, principally from the striking dis- 

 parity in the size of the adult. I have not at this time, had the means 

 of making an accvirate comparison, though I have seen the European 

 Night Heron living, in the aviary of Lord Stanley, but believe, from 

 the geographical range of the species in both continents, they must 

 be distinct, as neither migrate into the high boreal regions. The 

 transatlantic species, is said to inhabit the borders of the Don, where 

 it builds in trees, and is also met with at Astrachan, in summer. In 

 a forest, now demolished, at Sevenhuys, near Leyden, many formerly 

 bred, in company with the Spoonbills, and other birds of like habits. 

 They arrive in Silesia in the autumn, and migrate with the Storks in 

 the spring, they are inhabitants of the borders of lakes in Tuscany ; 

 are found at Aleppo, and there are figures of the species in Chinese 

 drawings. I am happy also to find, that my friend Mr. Audubon, 

 agrees with me in the opinion of the distinction of the American 

 species from that of Europe. 



BLUE HERON. 



(Ardea cairulea, Lin. Wilson, vii. p. 117. pi. 62. fig. 3. [adult.] 

 A. cccrulescens, Turton. A. cyanopus, Lathabi, Gmel. [the 

 young.] Phil. Museum, No. 3782.) 



Sp. Charact. — Crested; bluish-slate; feathers of the back and 

 breast, slender and elongated ; head and neck purplish-brown ; 3 

 occipital feathers. The young without the crest, and with the 

 head and neck of the same color with the body. 



The Blue Heron may be considered almost a restricted 

 native of the warmer climates of the United States, from 

 whence it migrates at the approach of winter, into the tropi- 

 cal parts of the continent, being found in Cayenne, Mexico, 

 and the island of Jamaica. The m^uddy shores of the Mis- 

 sissippi, from Natchez downwards, are their favorite resort. 



