258 ARDEIDJE. 



Nyctiardea nycticorax (Linn.). The Night-Heron. 



Nycticorax griseus (Linn.\ Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 758. 



Nyctiardea nycticorax (Linn.}, Hume, Rough Draft N. E. no. 937. 



I believe that the Night-Heron breeds pretty well all over the 

 Empire, alike in the plains and in the North-western Himalayas 

 up to an elevation of 6000 or 7000 feet. 



Common as is this species in many parts of the country, it is 

 rarely seen in broad daylight unless one chances upon one of its 

 hiding-places, usually some completely leaf-enshrouded bough, over- 

 hanging some stream or pond ; but after sunset they may often be 

 noticed, at times solitary, more usually in small parties, winging 

 their way pretty high in air towards some feeding-ground, with a 

 straight moderately rapid flight, uttering as they go, at short regular 

 intervals, a single sharp note more like a quack, it seems to me, 

 than a croak, as it is usually designated. 



In the plains they breed in July and August, but in Cashmere, 

 Mr. Brooks says, in April and May. They build both on trees and 

 in reed-beds ; but I have only thrice found the nests, so cannot say 

 which of those situations they commonly affect. When the nests 

 are on trees they are more substantial, and more and larger sticks 

 are used in their construction than when they are placed in rushes 

 and reeds. I could see nothing to distinguish their nests from 

 those of all the other members of the family. 



They lay four or five eggs ; but we found one nest in a gooler- 

 tree near Juggernathpoor on the 21st August containing six, and 

 all the eggs of this nest were very round and much below the usual 

 average size. 



Dr. Jerdon says that the Night-Heron " breeds on palms, tama- 

 rinds, and other trees in society" and this I believe to be the usual 

 rule. It is curious that each of the three nests that I have seen 

 were solitary. 



Mr. Brooks writes to me : " One of the breeding-places of this 

 bird is a clump of fine chenar or plane trees adjoining the Shaliroar 

 Gardens, near Sirinuggur in Cashmere. 



" These gardens are on the west border of the Sirinuggur Lake, 

 and, as well as I remember, are about four miles from the city. 

 Their elevation is the same as Sirinuggur (5000 feet). 



" I visited this place about the 24th of May, and found a good 

 number of the Common Heron (Ardea cinerea) breeding in the 

 trees, and about eighteen pairs of the Night-Heron. 



" Nearly all the pairs of both species had newly-hatched young ; 

 but a few pairs of each had eggs, of which the greater part were 

 deeply incubated, but a few were fresh. 



" The nests of the Night-Heron were very similar to those of 

 the Common Heron, but smaller ; being composed entirely of 

 sticks and twigs in the form of a simple platform, frequently so 

 scanty that the eggs could be seen through the nest from below. 

 As well as I remember, the greatest number of eggs or young in 

 any nest of either species was three. 



