GREY NIGHT HERON. 437 



fore part of the back and scapulars with green. At the third 

 moult the colours are nearly perfected. The long feathers 

 on the nape fall off in autumn, and are renewed in spring. 



Remarks. — On the principle of retaining the Linnsean 

 specific names, a different generic name ought to be given to 

 this group ; but as I find it extremely difficult to render the 

 nomenclature in this family at all rational, I must be content 

 with that given by Mr. Stephens, and generally adopted. 

 Mr. Swainson, who is not willing to allow any but himself 

 or a quinarian to alter names, proposes to substitute Nycti- 

 ardea for Nycticorax, that is, Night Heron for Night Crow. 

 The new word ought to be Nycterodius. 



