78 COMMON HERON NIGHT HERON. 



OKDER HERODIONES. 



Family ARDEID^E. 

 COMMON HEEON (Ardea cinerea). 



Eesident. Bather local, but usually met with in the vicinity 

 of water. 



Plumage. Crest white, except two long black plumes ; upper 

 parts slaty grey. Forehead, cheeks, neck, under parts, and 

 under tail-coverts white. Neck streaked with bluish grey, from 

 which depend long white feathers. Bill and legs long and 

 yellow. Length 36 in. Female smaller, rather duller, and 

 plumes shorter. Young : first covered with greyish brown 

 down above, and white below ; later dusky brown above, 

 striped on Hanks and breast with blackish. 



Language. A hoarse croaking " honk " or " kronk." Rather 

 silent generally. 



Habits. Sociable, always breeding in heronries. It loves to 

 stand with the water rippling round its lanky legs, quite 

 motionless, on. the look-out for fish, which are speared by the 

 long bill. It rises at first rather clumsily from the ground, 

 but soon assumes a leisurely majestic flight, more rapid than 

 it appears. In flight the legs trail behind note rounded 

 wings. A shy bird. 



Food. Fish, frogs, reptiles, &c., sometimes small mammals 

 and young water-fowl. It is voracious and little comes amiss. 



Nest. February or March. Two broods. 



Site. At the top of some tree, not far from water ; often 

 several nests in one tree. Sometimes on rocks and ruins. 

 Rarely on the ground. 



Materials. Sticks, lined with twigs, grass-sods, moss, wool, 

 &c. A bulky structure. 



Eggs. Three to five. Uniform greenish blue. 



NIGHT HERON (Nycticorax griseus). 



It may be regarded as an almost annual visitor in spring 

 and autumn. It is possible that, if not molested, it might 

 even breed in southern districts. 



Haunts. Marshes and swamps. 



Plumage. Crown, nape, back, and scapulars black, washed 

 with green. Neck, wings, and tail lavender-grey. Forehead 

 white; under parts white. Bill rather short and blackish. 

 Legs yellow. Length 23 in. Female smaller. 



Language. More silent in the daytime, but at night it utters 

 a melancholy "qua-a " or "waak." 



