32 THE BIRDS OF MONTREAL, 



adult specimen was shot May 24, 1890, at Lacolle, 

 about 44 miles southeast of Montreal, and was 

 stuffed by the late Mr. Caulfield. 



Genus Nyticorax. Stephens. 

 Subgenus " Nyticorax." 



57. Black-crowned Night Heron. (Quawk.) 1ST. 

 nycticorax nsevius. Bodd. 



" Summer Resident," common. Some years ago 

 there was a heronry of this species on Nun's Island, 

 building their nests in the trees, but they were so 

 much harrassed by " gunners " that they have com- 

 pletely forsaken the place now ; but I think a few 

 still breed on the islands above at the Lachine 

 rapids, where they are more inaccessible. An adult 

 specimen was shot at dusk on April 19, 1890, up 

 the creek at Laprairie, by Mr. Geo/S. Cleghorn. 

 The harsh cry, " quawk," made by this species is 

 often heard at nightfall by sportsmen and others, 

 when the night-herons sally forth from their rest- 

 ing places during the daytime to feed in the still- 

 ness of night. This night-feeding habit accounts 

 for their not often being seen in the daytime. The 

 adult night-heron is a handsome bird, and quite a 

 number are shot and taken to the taxidermists to 

 be stuffed. 



