478 THE BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 



crest with several narrow, much-elongated, cylindrical, pure white plumes ; re- 

 maining upper parts ashy- or smoky-gray ; edge of wing white ; bill black ; lores 

 greenish ; irides red ; legs yellow. Immature : Above fuscous, with central 

 stripes, or centro-terminal wedge-shaped spots of white and buffy; green-tinged 

 on crown and back, or not, according to age ; below and on sides of head and neck 

 white heavily streaked with fuscous. Length 23.00-26.00 (584.2-660.4).; wing 

 12.50 (317.5) ; tail 4.75 (120.6) ; bill 3.00 (76.2) ; tarsus 3.30 (83.8) ; middle toe 

 and claw 3.45 (87.6). 



Recognition Marks. 1 5 rant size; greenish black crown and mantle of adult 

 contrasting with ashy gray; general streakiness of young. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, usually placed high in trees, but occasionally in low 

 bushes or even on the ground. Eggs, 4-6, pale, dull blue. Av. size, 2.00 x 1.45 

 (50.8x36.8). 



General Range. America from Ontario and Manitoba southward to the 

 Falkland Islands, including part of the West Indies. 



Range in Ohio. Not common resident and migrant. Of local appearance 

 only. 



THIS Heron works on the night shift, and as a consequence forfeits much 

 of the admiration and avoids most of the target practice of men. Only after 

 sunset does it leave its perch on some secluded log or well-screened limb and 

 hurry off for a twilight breakfast. It cannot be proved that the bird loves 

 darkness because of evil deeds, for its diet consists almost exclusively of fish, 

 and these are lawful prey of king or peasant. In seeking food the Night 

 Heron does not, after the fashion of its diurnal kin, stand knee deep in some 

 quiet pool waiting for something to turn up, but it moves briskly about in 

 shallow water with its head half lowered and poised on the mobile neck 

 ready for an instant stroke. These tactics are very successful, and accord- 

 ing to Dr. Warren, an observer in Pennsylvania tells of a Heron which was 

 shot and brought to him, from whose bill the tail of a fish projected four 

 inches. "On removing the fish (a sucker, Catostomus, which must have 

 been twelve inches long) its head and shoulders except the bony portions 

 were eaten away by the gastric liquor of the stomach." 



As the Heron moves through the gloom from place to place, it often 

 utters a hoarse croak, qua or qucewk, and while the note is not very ominous 

 in itself, it seems to conjure up much of the mystery and the sadness of the 

 night. The belated sportsman feels a wee creepy when this voice of the 

 night challenges out of the darkness, and he hurries home to light and ex- 

 pected cheer. 



Nests occur only in colonies, sometimes to the number of thousands. The 

 platforms of sticks are built in saplings or tall trees, and even, westerly, 

 upon the ground. Two broods are usually raised in a season, and accord- 

 ing to Mr. W, E. Endicott, it is not an uncommon thing to find four or 

 five young birds clambering about the tree-top while the second brood wait 



