( 280 ) 



rump, ash color, shaded with grayish-blue ; lower parts white. — 

 Young without the plumes, and of a dull grayish-brown color. 

 Length of adult twenty-five inches and a half, wing twelve and a 

 quarter. 



The migrations of the Night Heron seldom extend far into the 

 interior, but on most parts of the sea const of the United States it 

 is common during summer. In the Southern States it is a constant 

 resident. It visits Long Island in the early part of April, and con- 

 tinues until quite late in autumn, and I have heard of its being 

 seen there in the depth of winter. It inhabits ihe overgrown mar- 

 gins of water-courses and ponds. It seldom ventures abroad by 

 daylight ; and at such times is rarely seen, unless met with by 

 accident. At twilight it is seen flying over the marshes, and fol- 

 lowing the streams, reconnoitering for food, which consists of 

 fishes, frogs, mice, lizards, and like prey. When roaming about 

 at night, it is heard uttering at intervals a loud guttural sound, — 

 from which it lias by gunners received the appellation of "Quack" 

 or " Quawk." 



ARDEA VIOLACEA— LINN. 

 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 



Ardea violacca, Wils Amer Orn. 



Ardea violucea. Bo.;ap. Syn. 



Whiic-crowned Heron, Nutt. Man. 



Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Length of bill from the corner of the mouth 

 to the point about three inches and a half; bill black, strong, the 

 edges of both mandibles rough toward the end ; the bill at base is 

 swelled, or bulging, and retains that character the greater portion 

 of its length ; toward the end compressed ; the lower mandible is 

 more rounded than that of the Black-crowned Night Heron, and 

 scarcely shorter than the upper, the point of which merely extends 

 beyond it ; length of tarsi three inches and five-eighths. Adult 



