So Allen's naturalist's library. 



bushes in large swamps or marshes. Many pairs nest in close 

 proximity, and very often in association with other tree-loving 

 waders, such as the Night-Heron, Buff-backed Egret, Spoon- 

 bill, and Glossy Ibis. The uproar made by a breeding-colony 

 of these birds, when disturbed and floating in the air over their 

 nurseries, must be heard to be believed. 



Eggs. — From three to six in number, of a greenish-blu/ 

 colour. Axis, i -65-1 -9 inch ; i -2-1 -35. 



THE NIGIIT-IIERONS. GENUS NVCTICORAX. 



Nycticorax^ Rafin. Analyse, p. 71 (1815). 



Type, N. nycfi'corax (L.). 



The Night-Herons and their allied genera have twelve tail- 

 feathers, but the tibia is not so bare as in the True Herons, 

 the naked portion of the tibio-tarsus being less than the length 

 of the inner toe. The bill is stout and of moderate length, 

 without any serrations in either mandible, but showing a dis- 

 tinct notch just before the tip of the upper one ; the culmen is 

 about equal to the tarsus in length, and the tarsus is of about 

 the same length as the middle toe and claw. There are gener- 

 ally two, sometimes three, drooping ornamental plumes on the 

 nape. 



The Night-Herons are found nearly all over the world, but 

 do not range far to the northward, where the climate is un- 

 suited to their habits. Ten species are known, of which the 

 Common Night-Heron is the most widely distributed. 



I. THE COMMON NIGHT-HERON. NVCTICORAX NVCTICORAX. 



Adea 7iycitcorax, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 235 (1766). 

 Nycticorax ga?'de7u\ Macg. Br. B. iv. p. 433 (1852). 

 Nyctico7'ax griseus, Dresser, B. Eur. iv. p. 269, pi. 402 (1879) ; 



B. O. U. List Br. B. p. no (1883) ; Saunders, ed. Yarr. 



Br. B. iv. p. 195 (1884); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part 



vii. (1888) ; Saunders, Man. Br. B. p. 367 (1889). 

 Nycticorax ?iycticorax, Seeb. Br. B. iv. p. 496 (1884) ; Sharpe, 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvi. p. 146. 



