COMMON NIGHT-HERON. 153 



times on trees at a "very great height, and, in the low 

 islands, on the mangrove trees that overhang the 

 water. The birds are described as extremely noisy 

 and watchful, their sense of hearing being particularly 

 acute ; at the same time, they are easily procured 

 by lying in watch, and shooting the birds as they 

 come into their nests or to roost. The nests are of 

 considerable size, and are constructed of sticks and 

 roots ; the eggs are of the pale bluish-green common 

 to the greater part of the Ardeadce. The young are 

 esteemed, as food, equal to young pigeons, and seem 

 to be sought after both by man and the rapacious 

 birds, which collect around the breeding stations for 

 the supply which is at this season there furnished.* 

 If we consider the American specimens to be dis- % 

 tinct, the range of the British bird will be restricted 

 to Europe, Africa, and parts of India ; also Japan.t 

 The back of the neck, wings, rump, and tail, are 

 of a fine pearl grey, palest on the back of the neck ; 

 the forehead, cheeks, throat, and under parts, pure 

 white ; the crown of the head and nape, with the 

 upper part of the back and mantle, are of a rich 

 glossy greenish-black, the feathers on the centre of 

 the back being rather long, and having their webs 

 unconnected, as in the true Herons ; and, from the 

 occiput, springs a beautiful adornment of gene- 

 rally three pure white narrow feathers, which reach 

 to the back. The bill is black ; the legs greenish- 

 yellow, appearing of a clearer colour as the bird 

 attains maturity. In the young bird, represented 

 v. * Wilson, Audubon. f Temminck. 



