108 EEPOET OP NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



203 Nycticorax violaceus (Linnaeus). 

 Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 



Adults.— Length, 22-28. Wing, 10.50-12.50. Above, bluish-gray, streaked 

 with blacli on the scapulars ; crown and ear-coverts, white, the former tinged 

 with buff ; sides of head and throat, blaclc ; under parts, bluish-gray ; several 

 slender white plumes from the back of the head ; legs and feet, greenish ; bill, 

 black. 



Young in first summer. — Similar to the young Black-crowned Night Heron, 

 but wings bluish-gray, without rufous edgings. 



A very rare straggler. I know of but one record — a full-plumaged 

 bird obtained by Mr. Ware, at Woodbine, N. J., May 23d, 1892, which 

 was mounted by Mr. C. A. Voelker and exhibited before the Delaware 

 Valley Ornithological Club.^ While he gives no definite record, Au- 

 dubon says : "I am not aware of any having been seen farther [north] 

 than New Jersey." 



Order PALUDICOL^. 



Rails and Cranes. 

 Family GRUID.ffi. 



The Cranes. 



Large Heron-like birds, but strictly terrestrial, with the hind toe 

 reduced and elevated above the plane of the others. Birds of open 

 marshy districts. Nest on the ground. 



204 Grus americana (Linnaeus). 

 Whooping Crane. 



Adults. — Length, 50-54. Wing, 22-25. Plumage, white ; primaries, black ; 

 top of head lores and sides of throat nearly naked, dark red with a few black 

 hair-like feathers. 



Young in first summer. — Plumage, dull buff ; head entirely feathered. 



' Stone, Birds of E. Pa. and N. J., p. 65. 



