NORTH AMERICAN MARSH BIRDS 217 



species, which resembles the black crab in form, which is, on account of its 

 being a favorite with the herons, called the galden crab by the Bahamans. 

 This crab is very abundant. Another crab, or rather group of land crabs, 

 which I think is exempt from the attacks of the galden is the hermit crab, for 

 they retreat within their borrowed shells, and guard the entrance with their large 

 claws. 



Mr. Bowdish (1902) found in the stomachs of birds, taken in Porto 

 Rico, fiddler crabs, two fresh-water eeLs about 6 inches long and two 

 crawfish. Mr. Wayne (1906) says that in the breeding season the 

 food of these birds is chiefly crawfish, but that after the breeding 

 season they "resort to the salt marshes, and feed chiefly upon fiddlers 



and fish." 



Behavior. — The appearance of the yellow-crowned night heron in 

 flight is midway between that of the black-crowned and that of the 

 other small herons, hence it is quite distinctive; it is a more slen- 

 der bird and has a longer neck and longer legs than the black- 

 crowned ; its flight is slower and its neck is folded, after the manner of 

 other herons, rather than contracted. The color is distinctive and 

 the large, black bill is conspicuous. Its appearance on the ground 

 is also characteristic, as it walks gracefully and slowly about on its 

 long legs, with its long neck extended and its orange-red eyes search- 

 ing for its prey. I have found immature birds very tame and easily 

 approached, but the adults are rather shy, as a rule. 



Audubon (1840) writes: 



This species is by no means entirely nocturnal, for I have seen it searching for 

 food among the roots of mangroves at all hours of the day, and that as assidu- 

 ously as any diurnal bird, following the margins of rivers, and seizing on both 

 aquatic and terrestrial animals. Whilst at Galveston, I frequently saw a large 

 flock similarly occupied. When they had satisfied their hunger, they would 

 quietly remove to some safe distance toward the middle of an island, where, stand- 

 ing in a crouching posture on the ground, they presented a very singular appear- 

 ance. That they are able to see to a considerable distance on fine clear nights, I 

 have no doubt, as I am confident that their migratory movements are usually per- 

 formed at such times, having seen them, as well as several other species, come 

 down from a considerable height in the air, after sunrise, for the purpose of rest- 

 ing and procuring food. When in numbers, and surprised on their perches, they 

 usually rise almost perpendicularly for 30 or 40 yards, and then take a partic- 

 ular direction, leading them to some well-known place. Whenever I have started 

 them from the nest, especially on the Florida Keys, they would sneak off on 

 wing quite low, under cover of the mangroves, and fly in this manner until they 

 had performed the circuit of the island, when they would alight close to me, as 

 if to see whether I had taken their eggs or young." 



Enemies. — Audubon (1840) notes that the yeUow-crowned night 

 heron was ''watched and shot with great eagerness, by the Creoles 

 of lower Louisiana, on account of the excellence of its flesh" but it 

 can not now be regarded as a game bird. According to Mr. Maynard 

 (189G) it was also much hunted as a game bird by the inhabitants 

 of the Bahamas. 



