BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. • 1 73 



swiftl)', the neck projected horizontally, uttering a low cluck at 

 intervals. Its ordinary call, often uttered from the morasses and 

 mangrove swamps, is a loud scream, harsh and guttural. In each 

 specimen that I dissected the stomach was enormous, occupying the 

 whole length and breadth of the body. It usually is found distended 

 with the larvce of libelluladcs and dyticidc^ and with fresh-water 

 prawns. The latter lie in the stomach always in the same way, viz., 

 doubled up, the head and tail pointing forwards, the only way in 

 which they could be swallowed with safety." 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 367. 



NYCTIARDEA VIOL ACE A. {Linn.) 

 Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 



Local Name. — Gollden. 



Winter Plumage, Male. — Head crested, and plumes of the back 

 reaching beyond the tail ; above, bluish gray ; feathers of the back, 

 with broad black central stripes ; below, showing whitish on the 

 abdomen ; head, black, a frontal patch of white with rufous tinge 

 extending into a long crest ; above, a shorter one of black ; a white 

 stripe on the cheeks ; edge of carpus, white ; wing-feathers, dark 

 slate, with pale edgings; bill, black; feet, black and yellowish. 



Length about 23, wing 13.20, tail 4, tarsus 3.70, bill 2.60. 



