BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 173 
swiftly, 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 larve of “éellulade and dyticide 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. VIL pls 367. 
NYCTIARDEA VIOLACEA. (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. 
