126 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



Genus NYCTICORAX Stephens. 

 Subgenus NYCTICORAX. 



NYCTICORAX NYCTICORAX N/CVIUS {BoddX 

 Black=crowned Night Heron. 



Crown, head, back, and scapulars greenish black ; forehead, lores, most of the neck and under 

 parts white or ashy white. Wings and tail gray ; legs and feet yellow : two or three ver\- long 

 occiputal plumes, white, in the breeding season. 



Lengtii, 24 to 26: Wing, 11; Tarsus, 3.10 to 3.40; Tail, 4.20 to 5.30. 



The immature bird has the general plumage mottled dark brown and gray, the feathers 

 marked and streaked with pointed blotches of grayish or buff: outer web of primaries buff 

 color ; under parts streaked with black and white. 



This species occurs on the Atlantic coast from Canada to South America 

 and has been recorded from the West Indies. It is common in Florida. 

 The nest is a mass of sticks generally built in trees or low bushes, rarely on 

 the ground. All the nests that I personally have found have been built in 

 trees or bushes. The eggs are four to six in number and pale blue. 



