( 280 ) 



rump, ash color, shaded with grayish-blue ; lower parts white.— 

 Young without the plumes, and of a dull grayish-brown color. 

 Length of adult twenty-five inciies and a half, wing twelve and a 

 quarter. 



The migrations of the Night Heron seldom extend far into the 

 inferior, but on most parts of the sea const of llie United States it 

 is common during summer. In the Southern States it is a constant 

 resident. It visiis Long Island in the early part of April, and con- 

 tinues until quite late in autumn, and I have lieard of its being 

 seen there in the depth of winter. It inhabits the overgrown mar- 

 gins of wafer-courses and ponds. It seldom ventures abroad by 

 daylight ; and ai such times is rarely seen, unless met with by 

 accident. At twilight it is seen flying over the marsiies, and fol- 

 lowing the streams, reconnoilering for food, wliich consists of 

 fishes, frogs, mice, lizards, and liice prey. When roaming about 

 at nigiit, it is hcaid utiering at intervals a loud guttural sound, — 

 from wlucii it lias by gunners received the appellation of "Quack" 

 or " Quawk." 



ARDEA VIOLACEA— LINN. 

 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON- 



Ardea violacea, Wils Amcr. Orn. 



Ardca violacra. Boijap. Svn. 



VV'hiie-crowncil Heron, Nutt. Man. 



Ycllow-crovvneil Heron, Ardca violacea, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Length of bill from tiie corner of the mouth 

 to the point about three inches and a half; bill black, strong, the 

 edges of both mandibles rough toward the end ; the bill at base is 

 swelled, or bulging, and retains that character the greater portion 

 of its length ; toward the end compressed ; the lower mandible is 

 more rounded than that of the Black-crowned Night Heron, and 

 scarcely shorter than the upper, tlie point of which merely extends 

 beyond it j length of tarsi three inches and five-eighliis. Adult 



