CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 609 



NYCTICORAX, Steph. 

 N. [grisea, L.] nycticorax, var. naeviue, Bodd. {Nyctiardx gardeni— 

 Abbott's Catalogue.) Black-crowned Night Heron. Squawk, 

 &c. 



Bluish gray ; crown and shoulders glossy green ; two or three 

 long, white occipital plumes ; lower parts, &c., white or yellow- 

 ish ; young light brown, speckled with white. Length, 24 

 inches ; bill, 3 inches ; tarsus, 3 inches. 



"Arrives in April, and seldom goes south before November, 

 and it is not an unusual occurrence to find them in midwinter. 

 At such times they frequent spring-holes, but what they there 



find to subsist upon deponent saith not. During the day 



being strictly nocturnal— they remain iu the swamps and wood- 

 lands, and fly to their feeding-grounds after the sun is fairly 

 down. They feed exclusively upon fish, unless it be in winter. 

 From their note, which is a coarse, guttural sound, they have 

 received the name of ' qua ' or ' quok,' or from some the equally 

 meaningless ' qua-bird.' They build among large trees, at less 

 elevation than herons generally choose, raising but a single brood. 

 Strictly inoffensive." 



Seclion NATATORES. 



Swimmers. 



Order LAMELLIROSTRES. 

 Sub-Order ANSERES. 



Ducks, &c. 



Family ANATID^. 



Ducks. 



MERGANSER, Briss. 



M. americanus, Cass. [Mergus merganser, L.) American Merganser. 

 Goosander, Fish Duck. Shelldrake. 



Bill narrow, not black, with fine teeth along edge of mandibles, 

 and at front, pointing backwards ; head greenish black, bearing 



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