BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 115 



Genus NYCTICORAX Stephens. 



Subgenus NYCTICORAX. 



NYCTJCORAX NYCTICORAX N^VIIJS (Dodd.). 



77. Black-crowned Night Heron. (202) 



Xo peculiar feathers, excepting two or three very h^iig tikiiuentoiis phiuies 

 springing from the occiput, generally inibi'icated in one bundle ; bill, very 

 stout; tarsi, reticulate below in front. Length, about 2 feet; wing, 12-14 

 inches ; bill, tarsus and middle toe, about 3. Crown, scapulars and inter- 

 scapulars, very dark glossy green; general plumage, bluish-gray, more or less 

 tinged with lilac ; forehead, throat-line and most under parts, whitish ; occipital 

 plumes, white; Idll, black; lores, greenish; eyes, red; feet, yellow. YoiiiKj: — 

 Very different ; lacking the plumes ; grayish-brown, paler below, extensively 

 speckled with white; quills, cliocolate-lH'Own, white-tipped. 



Hab. — America, from the British jiossessions southward to the Falkland 

 Islands, including part of the West Indies. Breeds in connnunities. returning 

 to the same jjlace year after year. 



Nest, a large loose platform of sticks and twigs, placed well up in a tall tree. 



Eggs, four to six, pale greenisli-l)lue. 



In Ontario the Night Heron, or " Qnawk, " as it is connnonly 

 called, is not generally distributed, though stragglers are occasionally 

 seen at different points throughout the Province. Their breeding- 

 places are by no means common, the vicinity of the sea being 

 evidently preferred to the interior. 



Along the banks of the lower St. Lawrence they breed in immense 

 ntimbers, every tree in certain districts having several nests among 

 its l)0tighs. When viewed from a distance these trees have the 

 appearance of being heavily coated with dirty whitewash, and the 

 entire vegetation underneath them is killed by the accumulated 

 droppings of the birds. 



Though somewhat untidy in their surroundings at home, the birds 

 themselves when seen in spring plumage are very handsome, the fiery- 

 red eyes and long, flowing phimes giving them qtiite an interesting 

 appearance. 



In the North- West they occur in limited numbers, but are not 

 regularly distributed. There the nests are made in the mar-sh, and 

 fixed to the reeds, eight or ten inches above the water. 



Night Herons have been found throughout the greater portion 

 of South America, and in some sections of the United States they 

 have large heronries, where thousands breed together. They usually 

 select a clump of tall trees, not easy of access, and lia\o fom' 



