HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS 77 



Nest. — On branches of trees and bushes near water; loosely made of 

 sticks and lined with leafy twigs. JEggs : 3 to (3, light bluish green. 



The green heron, with other mainly nocturnal herons, lives in 

 woody swamps, bogs, or sedgy marshes, and often hunts along 

 streams and ponds. When startled it flies up with a ' hollow gut- 

 tural scream,' but soon lights on a stump or tree, looking around 

 with craned neck. It lives largely on small fish, frogs, larvae and 

 grasshoppers, together with a variety of insects. 



201b. A. V. anthonyi Mearns. Anthony Green Heron. 



Similar to vir-esrens, but decidedly lighter colored ; sides of neck bright 

 yellowish chestnut. Length : 19.10, wing 8.20, bill 2.o5. ^ 



Distribution. — Arid region of the southwestern United States, and 

 south through Mexico ; north to Yreka, California. 



Anthonyi is a pale desert form of cirescem, with only local modi- 

 fications of habit. 



GENUS NYCTICORAX. 



General Characters. — Bill comparatively short and stout ; head crested, 

 and, in breeding plumage, with a few long' white cord-like plumes from 

 back of crown. 



key to species. 



1. Crown black, cheeks and chin creamy white . . . neevius, p. 77. 

 1. Crown creamy white, cheeks and chin black . . violaceus, p. 78. 



Subgenus Nycticorax. 



202. Nycticorax nycticorax nsevius {Bodd). Black- 

 crowned Night Heron. 



Bill about as long as tarsus. Adults: crown and back black; wings 

 and tail ashy gray ; forehead and throat creamy white, shading into light 

 gray of sides and under parts. Young : crown blackish, streaked with 

 buff; back dusky gray, spotted and striped, and quills tipped with buff; 

 neck and under parts coarsely striped witli buff and dusky. Length : 28- 

 2(), wing^ 1 1.00-12.80, bill 2.S()-;].10, tarsus ;5.10-3.40. 



Distribution. — JVIost of South America and north to southern Canada ; 

 breeding throughout its range and wintering from the southern United 

 States soutliward. 



Nest. — Iloughly made of reeds, ru.shes, or sticks placed on the ground 

 among reeds, or on bushes or trees. J^ggs : o to 0, dull bluish. 



Tlic black-crowned is one of the commonest and most widely dis- 

 tri])ute(l of our herons. Pairs or small Ihx-ks pass hurriedly over- 

 head morning and evening, uttering now and then the liar.^h gut- 

 tural ' S(iuawk' wiiich gives them their commonest name. During 

 the day you frighten them from their naps among the tules or reeds 

 or from the leafy branches of the eottonwoods that overhang the 

 streams; and whether one or a dozen are aroused, each loudly re- 



