NYCTIARDEa grisea. 2^55 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EG(JS. 

 Nesls. placed on tree-; and ooiiiposed of sticks, somewhat loosely arratii^ed. E','</s, three to five in number, Taryin"' 

 from elliptical to oval in form, pale liluisU-green in color, unspotted. Diniensiuns from r35x 1 ''JO to r55x2'15. 



HABITS. 



The Ni.iiht Herons are among the most widely distributed of the family, jind their cries 

 may be heard in almost any section, from INIaine to Florida, as they make their ni^izhtly ex- 

 cursions from their roosts to their feeding grounds. The notes uttered by these birds, which 

 are loud and abrupt, have gained for them a numb(>r of uncouth appellations, among which 

 Quak, Squak, and Gobl^'-gossit are examples. As may be inferred from the name, these 

 Herons are decidedly nocturnal in habit, seeing remarkably well by night, during which 

 time, they usually feed; but in the breeding season, when they have their young to care 

 for, they fish by day-light, as well as during the hours of darkness. It has been aflirmed 

 by some, that the Night Herons are furnished with a phosphorescent light on the peculiar 

 powder patches, with which all the Herons are provided and which usually lie along the 

 breast; but I now think that this, perhaps, is a matter of question, as tame Night Herons 

 which [ have kept, exhibited no such peculiarities. It is probable, however, that the oily 

 powder which readily falls from the short, downy feathers, tends to attract fish, as it is not 

 uncommon to find it floating on the water in which a Night Heron has been standing. 



The Night Herons deposit their eggs in Florida, from the middle of March to the mid- 

 dle of April, antl in the North, they breed from the first of May until June. Heronries of 

 these birds are particularly filthly, when compared with those of other Herons, as the birds 

 appear to bring in a much greater supply of fish, than is eaten by the young, and this eith- 

 er falls to the ground and decays, or is left on the nests. Then the young Herons are 

 always ready to disgorge the contents of their stomachs, upon the slightest provocation, 

 and the half digested fish which they throw up, has an exceedingly disagreeable odor. 

 These Herons are very noisy birds, even when unmolestetl, and both young and old keep 

 up a continual discord, the adults croaking or emitting guttural cries, and the young an- 

 swering by chattering. When an intruder enters their abode, however, these sounds are 

 increased some ten fold, for then, every bird not only joins in the chorus, but each appears 

 to try to outdo the others, in giving vent to the most uncouth and ear-grating sounds; in 

 fact, if one wishes to acquire a good idea of pandemonium, let him visit ahirge Night Her- 

 onry. 



These birds are not particularly wild whi n they arc not shot at, and will often alight 

 on the trees over the head of the collector. When taken young, they become very tame, 

 and I once kept five for a season. These birds surprised me, by the variety of disposition 

 which they ilisplayed. For example, one was very affectionate and would always run to 

 meet me before the others saw me, and delighted in perching on my knee, and in allow- 

 ing me to caress him; another was extremely neat and sleek in appearance, but this bird was 

 quite shy and never allowed me to touch him. While a third was noticeably untidy, his 

 feathers always presenting a ruffled appearance; this bird was rem.-irkably greedy, and on 

 one occasion, when I was chopping some fish for them with a hatchet, he reached out for 

 a morsel, just as the instrument was falling, and before I could check the blow, the upper 

 mandible of the Heron was completely severed. This accident did not appear to trouble 



