KIGHT HEROff. 99 



The food of the Night Heron consists of fish, reptiles, any 

 small animals, leeches, worms, and the larger water insects. 

 The prey is swallowed whole. 



The note is hoarse and hollow, resembling the syllable 

 'qua,' from whence, in America, the name given to the species 

 of Qua Bird. Meyer describes the note as sounding like the 

 word 'cowow' 



These birds form heronries, either, according to Audubon, 

 near plantations, or the interior of retired and secluded 

 swamps, as well as on some of the sea islands covered with 

 evergreen trees. These are formed in low bushes, or in 

 middle-sized or tall trees, as seems most convenient or secure. 

 In some places the nests are placed within a few yards of 

 the ground, many on the branches, others between the 

 diverging boughs of the trees; in others at the tops of the 

 trees, at an elevation of not much more than twenty feet; 

 and in others again in tall cypresses, at a height of a hun- 

 dred feet, or thereabouts. Hundreds may be seen at once in 

 those countries where the birds live. These remarks however, 

 * it is to be observed, apply to the American birds. The nest 

 is fabricated of sticks, and is large in size and fiat in shape; 

 it is lined with reeds, rushes, grass, and leaves. 



The eggs are commonly four in number, sometimes five, 

 and of a pale greenish blue colour. Selby says, 'as soon as 

 the young have gained sufficient strength, they climb to the 

 top of the trees, where they are fed by the parents till they 

 are able to fly, and support themselves.' 



The young, in their very different livery, have been 

 described as a different species. 



Male; length, from about twenty-two inches and a quarter, 

 to twenty-three inches; bill, black, inclining to yellow at the 

 base, a white line extends from it over the eye; iris, deep 

 reddish orange; the eyelids, greenish or bluish white. Fore- 

 head, white; crown, black with green reflections; neck on the 

 sides, tinged with grey, on the back, and the nape, black 

 with green reflections: from the head springs an occipital 

 plume of feathers, generally three, but sometimes four in 

 number. They are concave beneath, the one fitting within 

 the other, so as to appear like a single plume; this the bird 

 has the power of raising or depressing according as it is 

 alarmed or irritated, or at rest; and thus they 'part to meet 

 again:' the upper one is the longest, sometimes measuring 

 about eight inches in length; they are tipped or not with 





