158 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



The noise made by young and old was continuous and varied, reminding one 

 of the din of a poultry show, the typical quawk being far less common than 

 croakings, duckings, and high pitched and rapidly repeated ki's. The young 

 were frequently fighting in the branches, flopping about awkwardly, making short 

 flights with dangling legs, and clinging by their large feet. When shaken to 

 the ground they showed fight, swelling out their throats, dabbing viciously with 

 their bills, hissing or shrieking, and raising their wings threateningly. They 

 ran off with wings partly spread and head down, falling occasionally to the 

 ground. Although nearly full grown, many still showed the natal down on the 

 tips of the feathers. The adults appeared to keep discreetly in the background. 



Next to the noise, the most impressive thing in a large heronry is the smell, 

 — penetrating and fishy, — reminding one of the Gloucester wharves at low tide. 

 Not only are the ground and bushes covered with the droppings as if white- 

 washed, but the visitor receives his full share. 



Stories are told of two bushels of eggs being taken from this heronry 

 fifteen years ago. Its privacy is, I think, more respected now, and I am told 

 that the birds are fully as numerous now as they were ten years ago. 



82 [203] Nyctanassa violacea (Linn.). 

 Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 



Accidental visitor from the south. 



Mr. N. Vickary shot one of these birds at Lynn in October, 1862. 1 There 

 are only five other records for the State in Howe and Allen's list. 



[206] Grus mexicana (Mull.). Sandhill Crane. This is probably the species of Crane 

 that was observed by the early settlers in the seventeenth century (see page 63). The name Crane 

 is now popularly applied to the Great Blue Heron, a very different bird. 



83 [208] Rallus elegans Aud. 



King Rail. 



Accidental visitor from the south. 



One was shot by G. O. Welch at Nahant, on November 21st, 1875. 2 



1 J. A. Allen : Amer. Nat., vol. 3, p. 637, 1870. 



2 H. A. Purdie : Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, vol. 2, p. 22, 1877. 



