156 



YELLOW-CROWNED NUiHT BEKON. 



the bird much, for after the stump had healed, he eould eat nearly as v.ell as usual. They 

 would all fish for themselves, and during their nightly rambles, would sometimes fall in 

 with others of the same species and induce the strangers to return to roost with them, in » 

 small orchard back of the house, so that quite a company would gather there at times. 

 But upon my approach, they would all rise with Idu 1 cries, accomiJ^mied by the tame ones 

 who would follow their friends some distance, but after a time, would invariably return to. 

 their roosts. These birds remained with me until autumn, when they departed, evidently 

 migrating witli their wild companions, and I never saw them again. The Night Herons 

 usually migrate from Massachusetts, early in November, but a few seasons ago, when the 

 weather was unusually mild, they remained in this vicinity all winter. 



IfYOTIARDKA VIOLACEA. 



Yellow -crowned Night Heron. 



TSyctiardea violacea Sw., Girds, II; 1837, 351. 



DESCRIPTIOM. 



Sp. Cii. Form, robust. Size, rather small. Tongue, long, thin, antt gradually tapering toward tip which is p(jint- 

 ed. ]!acU and head, furnislied with long, lanceolate plumes. Lower third of tibia, naked. 



Color. Adull. Tale ashy-blue throughout, streaked on back with blade. Upper half of necliand head, blue-black, 

 with top of latter, and patcli ..n its side, pale straw-yellow. Iris, orange. Nalced space about head, greenish. Legs, yel- 

 low. Bill, black. 



Younij. Dark greenish-brown above, streaked and spotted with yellowish. A^hy-white beneath streaked with brown. 



Legs, greenish. 



OBSERVATIONS. 

 The adult may be known by the yellow crown, and the young by the small size, short, thick bill, and dark greenish 

 color on back. Distributeii, in summer, from the Carolinas, stmthward. Winters in Southern Florida. Stragglers are oc- 

 casionally found as far north as j\Iassachusetts. 



DIMENSIONS. 

 Average iiiea.surements of specimens from Florida. Length, 2-3-50; stretch, 4100; wing, IISO; tail, 4-25; bill, 3-00; 

 tarsus, 3 40. Longest si>eeimcn, 23-00; greatest e.Ktent of wing, 42-00; longest wing, 13 00: tail, 4-50; bill, 3-10; tarsus, 

 3 65. Shortest specimen, 2200; smallest extent of wing, 40-00; shortest wing, ITOO; tail, 4 00; 1 ill, 2-'J0; tarsus, 325. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, jjlaced in trees or bushes, coiuposed of sticks loosely arranged. Eyijs, from two to four in number, varying from 

 elliptical to oval in firm, yellowish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from l-40x 1-90 to 1-50x2-00. 



HABITS. 



The Yellow-crowned Night Herons do not appear to be common birds anywhere, and 

 although they occur sparingly throughout Florida, I found them more numerous at Miami 

 than elsewhere, and obtained their eggs from the Everglades, early in April- This species 

 is not nearly as nocturnal in habit, as the preceding, and although I have seen them tly- 

 ing at night, I have also observed them wading about the roots of the overhanging man- 

 groves, in search of fish, during daylight. When their hunger is appeased, they sit on the 

 low limbs of the trees which project over the water. They are extremely shy birds ami 

 are quite dillicult to kill, then when slightly wounded, run with great speed among the tan- 

 gled roots of the mangroves, always making for the densest thickets, so that it is quite dif- 

 ficult to procure specimens. The cry of the Yellow-crowned Night Herons is loud luit 

 differs from that of the common Night Heron, and they are not as noisy. These birds mi- 

 grate northward, as far as the Carolinas, in summer, and stragglers have even been takeo 

 In Massachusetts. 



