92 HERONS. 



size, preference for wooded regions instead of marshes, 

 and habit of nesting alone, not in flocks, hke most Iler- 

 Little Green Heron, ^^^^ accounts for its being relatively 



Ardea virescens. common. It arrives from the South 

 Plate VI. a|3Q^t ^pj.i| 20, and nests early in 



May. The nest, as is usual in this family, is a rude 

 platform of sticks and is placed in a bush or the lower 

 branch of a tree, often overhanging the water. The eggs 

 number from three to six, and in color are pale green- 

 ish blue. The young, although born with a covering of 

 hairlike feathers, are quite helpless and are reared in 

 the nest. Adults have the crown and back dark, glossy 

 green, the neck reddish brown. 



The notes of this little Heron are a clear whistle and 

 a harsh squawk, uttered when it is frightened. It then 

 seeks refuge by alighting in a distant bush or tree, and 

 with upstretched neck and twitching tail watches the 

 intruder. 



The Night Heron, or Squawk, doubtless owes its 



escape from the fate of most Herons to its nocturnal 



habits. These birds arrive from the 



Nieht Heron ^^'^^^^ ^^ April and remain until Oc- 



Nycticorax nycticorax tober. Tliey ucst in large colonies, a 



nrnvius. rookery not far from l^ew York city 



being inhabited by at least one thousand 



pairs. It is in a low, wooded tract, and the nests are built 



in the trees at an average height of thirty feet. The eggs 



number four to six, and in color are pale bluish green. 



At night, while feeding, these Herons are doubtless 

 distributed over a wide area. When flying, they often 

 utter a loud squawh, the origin of one of their common 

 names. It is a surprising sound when heard near by at 

 night, and has doubtless aroused the curiosity of many 

 persons who live near a line of flight followed by these 

 birds in going to and from their nests. 



