BIRDS OF 



feathers in front, a bare space behind. Young with the head less crested, 

 the back without long plumes, but glossy-greenish, neck merely reddish- 

 brown, and whole under-parts white, variegated with tawny and dark-brown. 

 Length, 16-18 ; wing, about 7 ; bill, i\ ; tarsus, 2 ; middle toe and claw about 

 the same ; tibia bare i or less. 



HAB. Canada and Oregon southward to Northern South America and 

 West Indies ; rare or absent in the Middle Province. 



Nest composed of twigs, placed in a bush or low tree in a swamp or by 

 the bank of a stream. Eggs 3 to 6 ; pale greenish-blue. 



This handsome little Heron finds its northern limit along 

 the Southern border of Ontario. According to Dr. Macallum 

 it breeds regularly on the banks of the Grand River near Dunn- 

 ville, and has also been observed occasionally at Hamilton, and 

 at the St. Clair flats, Like the others of its class the Green 

 Heron feeds mostly at night, and is seldom seen abroad by day 

 except by those who have occasion to invade its marshy haunts ; 

 on this account it may be more numerous than it is supposed to 

 be. It arrives about the end of April and leaves for the south 

 again in September. 



GENUS NYCTICORAX STEPHENS. 



SUBGENUS NYCTICORAX. 

 73. NYCTICORAX NYCTICORAX N^VIUS (BODD.). 202. 



Black-crowned Night Heron 



No peculiar feathers excepting two or three very long filamentous plumes 

 springing from the occiput, generally imbricated in one bundle ; bill very 

 stout ; tarsi reticulate below in front ; length, about 2 feet ; wing, 12-14 

 inches ; bill, tarsus and middle toe, about 3. Crown, scapulars and inter- 

 scapulars very dark glossy-green ; general plumage bluish-gray, more or less 

 tinged with lilac ; forehead, throat-line and most under-parts whitish ; 

 occipital plumes white ; bill black ; lores greenish ; eyes red ; feet yellow. 

 Young very different ; lacking the plumes ; grayish-b:own, paler below, ex- 

 tensively speckled with white ; quills chocolate-brown, white-tipped. 



HAB. America, frcm the British Possessions southward to the Falkland 

 Islands, including 1 part of the West Indies. 



Breeds in communities, returning to the same place year after year. 

 Nest, a large loose platform of twigs, placed well up in a tall tree. 

 Eggs 4 to 6 ; pale greenish-blue. 



80 



