ClIANGIiNG EGRET. 171 



hx the wc;il<eniii,;5 of tlie species eitlier throujrh too cl jse interhrec lins or froiB s )me other cause. Thus it was 

 that the acquiring of the white pluin'i.ije came about gradually, birds in mixed dress appearing first and 

 these mating together produceil a tendency towjird wiiite birds much more rapi.lly. But at first all youn" 

 birds would be reddish. N.nv this is just what is g )ing on in the colony of Egrets which I found on the west 

 coast of Andros. A small number of Reddisli Egrets, becoming isohited. had through too close interbreed- 

 ing, produced a race of partial albinos which may advance or may remain fixed, much as it is, or may revert 

 back to the parent stock. 



That Peal's and the Reddish Egrets are distinct species, with tlie observed facts quoted before me. I 

 cannot doubt, neitlicr can I doubt that the mixed race is an incipient species, being evolved from the 

 Reddish Egret, and as such its status must he indicated by a name, which 1 give below. 



ARDEA RUFA MUTATA Novo. 



Changing Egret. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SfB Sp. Cii. Form, size and general plumage similar to that (jf tlie Reddish Egret, but differs in having 

 the plumage irregularly mixed with white. 



Young of the year, similar to those of the Reddifh Egret or possibly occasionally mottled. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This sub-species occurs typically on the west coast of Andros Island, Bahamas, and also casually in 

 Florida. 



Notes on the Yellow-crowned Night Hkrox. Habits: 



This intorestincr species of Heron is very common in niimy portions of the Bahamus 

 unci other islands of the West ladies, and I have had anexc3llent oppartu'iity ofoljserving 

 its habits there. On the Bahamas it is known as the Galden, and is mnch hunted })v the 

 inhabitants, being a greatly esteemed article of diet. 



The food of the Yellow-crowned Niglit Herons is mainlv land crabs, wliich thev are 

 very exjiert at catching, killing and breaking to pieces. They will eat all kinds, excepting 

 possibl}^ the large white crab, a species whicli often measnres fourteen inches across the 

 body and claw.s, and which weighs about a pound. This animal appears to Ije too strong 

 and bulky for the Herons to manage, but they will kill the Black Crab, a crustacean 

 which measures nearly or quitj a foot across the body an;l claw.s. But a favorite cr.d) with 

 this Heron is a smaller species, which resembles the Blac'k Crab in form, wliich is, on 

 account of its being a favorite Avith the Heron, called the Galden Crab by the Bahamans. 

 This crab is very abundant. Another crab, or rather group of land crabs, which I think is 

 exempt from the attacks of the Galden is the Hermit Crab, for they retreat within their 

 borrowed shells, and guard the entrance with their large claws. 



On the Bahamas the Yellow-crowned Night Herons begin to breed the last week in 

 April. On the 2-^tli I procured two sets of eggs consisting of two each, l>ut I do not 

 think as a rule that they lay the full set of three and four eggs until the first week in 

 May. The nests are generally placed low, iti some instances not o\er a foot from the 

 ground. They are usually huge stick-built structures, well hollowi'd, antl remind one 

 strongly of the nests of hawks, and they are often even lined with leaves. 



When driven off the nests the Herons retreated without noise. They would often 

 run from the nest and .stand u;azino; silently at me, not over twenty or thirty _\anls away. 



