28 ARDEID# 
the only one recorded from the Outer Hebrides. (Kagle 
Clarke, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist.) 
In Ireland, Mr. Ussher states that over twenty occur- 
rences have taken place since 1834. Of these, seven came 
from Cork, a noted county for rare Herons, three from 
Dublin, two from Down, and one each from the following 
counties :—Kilkenny, Queen’s County, King’s County, Louth, 
Monaghan, Mayo, Armagh, and Donegal. (‘Birds of 
Ireland,’ p. 164.) The first British specimen on record 
was procured near London in May, 1782 (Saunders, Man. 
Brit. Birds, 1899, p. 379); among recent captures may 
be mentioned, specimens taken in co. Cork, May 31st, 
1899 ; in co. Wexford, April 2Ist, 1899; in co. Meath, May 
10th, 1900 (Ussher); in Norfolk, November 8th, 1899, 
(J. H. Gurney), and a specimen taken in Sussex, Sep- 
tember 24th, 1904 (J. B. Nicholls). 
Voice.—During the greater part of the day the Night- 
Heron skulks silently through dense and tall vegetation, 
such as flags, reeds and bulrushes; after dusk it becomes 
more lively, when its plaintive note qua-a, qua-ad, may be 
heard. 
Food.—The diet is of a very mixed character; fish, 
frogs, snails, worms, shrimps and water-beetles, are eaten. 
Nest.—The Night-Heron breeds in colonies, selecting 
trees and bushes growing in marshy situations. It also 
builds on the ground, erecting a platform of bent reeds 
above the level of the water. The nest, for the most part, 
is made of broken sticks. The eggs, three to five in number, 
are pale greenish-blue, with both ends somewhat pointed. 
Incubation begins about May. 
From the numbers of adult birds of both sexes which 
visit the British Isles in full nuptial plumage annually dur- 
ing the breeding-season, we may infer that this Heron 
might breed in suitable localities, were it not shot down 
ruthlessly. It should be borne in mind that several speci- 
mens have been procured, that the bird is quite common 
in many other countries, so that if there is a likelihood of 
its breeding with us, why not give it every encouragement 
to do so? 
Geographical distribution —The Night Heron is very 
widely distributed. It nests plentifully in Southern and 
South-Eastern Europe, in Asia, in Africa, and in North 
and South America. On migration it has wandered beyond 
our Isles to the Faroes, Denmark and Sweden. 
