228 NEW- YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 



Ardea violacea. 



plate lxxxviii. fig. 199. 



(STATE COLLECTION.) 



Ardea violacea. LinnjEUS, Syst. Nat. p. 238. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 448. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, 



p. 26, pi. 65, fig. 1. 

 Botaurus id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol 2, p. 305. 



White-crowned Heron. Nuttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 2, p. 52. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 89, pt. 364. Giraud, 

 Birds of Long island, p. 280. 



Characteristics. Ash-colored. Crested. Crown, and oblong spot on each cheek yellowish 

 white. Several long white occipital feathers : back with long loosely 

 webbed occipital feathers. Young : Head and hind neck black, streak- 

 ed with white ; beneath soiled yellowish, with oblong spots of brown. 

 Length, 21 inches. 



Description. Bill stout, straight, compressed, 3' 5 long, and 0*9 deep at the base. Upper 

 mandible curved gently from the base, notched near the tip ; edges serrate : nasal furrow 

 deep, and extending to within 1*0 of the tip. Nostrils basal, pervious. A distinct scaly 

 web between the outer and middle toe, and the rudiments of one between the middle and 

 inner toe ; hind claw large and much curved. Feathers on the crown ten to twelve, loosely 

 webbed; two of these are from 3 - to 4*0 long, with their short compact webs rolled in so 

 much as to cause the feathers to appear cylindrical : third quill longest. Tail short, nearly 

 even. 



Color. Dorsal feathers black in the centre, margined with white ; or otherwise the webs 

 become loose and silky, of a slate blue. Crown, oblong dash on the cheeks, and long 

 occipital feathers white, with a slight tinge of cream. In more southern specimens, where 

 the plumage is more fully developed, these parts are pale reddish yellow, and the dorsal fea- 

 thers extend beyond the tail. Primaries black. Sides of the head, cheeks, chin and upper 

 part of the back of the neck black. Ridge of the wing white. All beneath slate-blue. Naked 

 part of the tibia and tarsus yellow. Young, brown, streaked with white and rufous ; base 

 of the bill and feet greenish. 

 Length, 20-0-23-0. 



This is a rare bird in this State, the specimen which furnished the drawing being the only 

 one that I have seen within our territorial limits. It was killed on Long island near the salt- 

 marshes, March, 1837. It is no where very abundant, or at least has not been often observed. 

 This may be partly attributed to its nocturnal habits, which it shares with the preceding 

 species. Mr. Audubon states that the crown assumes its yellowish tinge only during the 

 breeding season. Eggs bluish green. Feeds on fish, salamanders, tortoises and other aquatic 

 reptiles. Its geographical range is supposed to be from the equator to the forty-first parallel. 

 It never goes far inland. 



