GRALLATORES. 311 



Sp. 557. NYCTICORAX CALEDONICUS. 



Nankeen Night Heron. 



Ardea caledonica, Lath. Ind. Orn., vol. ii. p. 679. 

 Caledonian Night Heron, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. v. p. 55. 

 Nydicorax caledonicus, Less. Traite cVOru., p. 571. 

 Ardea sparmannii, Wagl. Syst. Av., sp. 32. 



New Holland Night Heron, Lath. Gen. Hist., vol. ix. p. 63, young. 

 Gnal-ga'/l-ning, Aborigines of the lowland districts of Western Au- 

 stralia. 

 Al-ur-woon, Aborigines of Port Essington. 

 Quaker and Nankeen-bird of the Colonists. 



Nycticorax caledonicus, Gould, Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi. 

 pi. 63. 



This richly coloured species is universally dispersed over 

 the continent of Australia, but is far less abundant on the 

 western coast than elsewhere. Mr. Macgillivray procured it 

 at Cape York, where it is called Yonko by the natives. In 

 the southern latitudes it is only a summer visitant, arriving in 

 New South Wales and South Australia in August and Sep- 

 tember, and retiring again in February. As its name implies, 

 it is nocturnal in its habits, and from its frequenting swamps, 

 the sedgy banks of rivers, and other secluded situations, it is 

 seldom seen. On the approach of morning it retires to the 

 forests and perches among the branches of large trees, where, 

 shrouded from the heat of the sun, it sleeps the whole day, 

 and when once discovered is easily shot, for if forced to quit 

 its perch it merely flies a short distance and again alights. 

 Its flight is slow and flapping, and duiing its passage through 

 the air the head is drawn back between the shoulders and the 

 legs are stretched out backwards after the manner of the true 

 Herons. When perched on the trees or resting on the ground, 

 it exhibits none of the grace and elegance of those birds, its 

 short neck resting on the shoulders. When impelled to search 

 for a supply of food it naturally becomes more animated. 



