BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 93 



great numbers by mischievous boys they still lay again imme- 

 diately after, and usually succeed in raising a sufficient brood. 

 The nests, always in trees, are composed of twigs slightly inter- 

 laced, more shallow and slovenly than those of the Crow ; and 

 though often one, sometimes as many as two or three nests are 

 built in the same tree. The eggs, about four, are as large as 

 those of the common hen, and of a pale greenish blue color. 

 The marsh is usually w^hitened by the excrements of these 

 birds ; and the fragments of broken egg-shells, old nests, and 

 small fish which they have dropped while feeding their young, 

 give a characteristic picture of the slovenly, indolent, and 

 voracious character of the occupants of these eyries. 



On entering these dark and secluded retreats of the Night 

 Heron, the ear is assailed by the confused and choking noise 

 uttered by the old and young, which, however, instantly ceases 

 the moment the intruder is observed ; and the whole throng, 

 lately so clamorous, rise into the air in silence, and fly to the 

 tops of the trees in some other part of the wood, while parties 

 of the old birds, of from eight to ten, make occasional recon- 

 noitring circuits over the spot, as if to observe what may be 

 going on in their surprised domicile. 



However deficient these nocturnal birds may be in vision 

 by day, their faculty of hearing is so acute that it is almost 

 impossible, with every precaution, to penetrate near their resi- 

 dence without being discovered. As soon as the young are 

 able to fly, and long before they are capable of sustained 

 flight, they climb to the highest part of the trees near their 

 nests, as if to solicit the attention and watch the return and 

 protection of their officious parents ; and yet, with every pre- 

 caution, the young fall victims to the prowling Hawks, who, 

 hovering round, make an occasional sweep among their tim- 

 orous ranks. 



About the middle of October the Qua Birds begin to retire 

 from this part of Massachusetts towards their southern winter 

 quarters, though a few of the young birds still linger occasion- 

 ally to the 29th or 30th of that month. Their food consists 

 chiefly of small fish, which they collect in the twilight or 



