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BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON 

 202. Xycticorax nycticorax n&vius. 24 in. 



Bill much heavier than that of the herons; neck and 

 legs shorter and stouter; eye red; bill black; legs and 

 bare space in front of eye, pale yellowish-green. Young 

 birds are mottled with brownish-gray and white; eyes 

 yellow. As their name implies, these herons do most 

 of their feeding after dusk, sleeping during the greater 

 part of the day. Their heronries are usually located in 

 swamps, and preferably in coniferous trees. A visit to 

 one of these is very interesting, but old clothes must 

 be worn, for their homes are filthy. On your approach, 

 the old birds flap away, and circle about with squawks 

 of disapproval, and all the young birds commence a 

 loud ticking noise, like what would be produced by hun- 

 dreds of huge " grandfather's clocks." 



Notes. A harsh "quark." 



Nest. A platform of sticks; eggs pale bluish-green. 

 (2.00x1.40). 



Range. Breeds north to New Brunswick and Mani- 

 toba ; winters in the Gulf States and southward. 



