NIGHT-HERON. GRALLATORES. NYCTICORAX. 41 



ving the sound of qua, and by some compared to that pro- 

 duced by the retching of a sick person. They live and 

 breed together in societies, selecting the highest trees where- 

 on to build their nests; and seldom breeding upon the 

 ground among marshy spots and reeds, as stated by TEM- 

 MINCK. In North America, where the species is very com- 

 mon, the most solitary and shaded part of a cedar-swamp is 

 generally chosen *. The nest is composed entirely of sticks ; N est) &c> 

 and the eggs, which are generally four in number, are of a 

 pale greenish-blue colour, in size nearly equal to those of the 

 Common Heron. As soon as the young have gained suffi- 

 cient strength, they climb to the tops of the trees, where they 

 are fed by the parents, till they are able to fly, and support 

 themselves. The food of the Night-Heron consists of fish, Food. 

 reptiles, and the larger aquatic insects ; to which may occa- 

 sionally be added some of the smaller mammalia. Their 

 prey is swallowed whole ; the gullet being very large and 

 expansive immediately below the bill, from whence it nar- 

 rows to the stomach, which is a soft membranous oblong 

 pouch. 



PLATE 7. represents the mature bird of the natural size, 

 taken from the above mentioned specimen killed by the 

 Earl of Home, and now in the Edinburgh Museum. 

 The bill is black, inclining to yellow at the base and General 

 gape ; the lores and orbits pale greenish-blue (accord- d . escn P- 

 ing to WILSON, bluish-white). The irides deep reddish- Adult 

 orange. The crown of the head, nape of the neck, up- bird * 

 per part of the back, and the scapulars, are black, with 

 green reflections. The lower part of the back, rump, 

 wings, and tail, of a fine pearl-grey. The sides of the 

 neck are tinged with grey; the forehead, throat, and 

 all the under parts, are white. From the nape of the 



* See WILSON'S characteristic and interesting account of this species in 

 his American Ornithology, vol. vii. p. 106, article Night-Heron, or Qua 

 Bird. 



