416 NIGHT HERON. 



to Key West. They wade about the shallows, in search of fishes or frogs, and when dis- 

 turbed, will rise with a shrill cry, which they repeat several times as they (ly along the 

 water, to alight on some favorite tree, from which point of observation, they will anxiously 

 scan the intruder, with out-stretched necks. In the North, where they arrive early in 

 May, they build their nests in some secluded thicket, in the neighborhood of ponds or 

 streams, depositing their eggs about the first of June. Here the birds are rather solitary 

 during the breeding season; but in Florida, where they lay in March and April, they often 

 assemble in small heronries, and I have taken as many as fifteen nests, from one small is- 

 land which was only a few yards in diameter. Among the Keys, they often place their 

 domiciles on the roots of the mangroves, frequently not over six inches above high water 

 mark. 



The Little Green Herons are not very shy birds, when not persecuted, and in Florida, 

 they are very tame, allowing one to walk within a few yards of them. They make inter- 

 esting pets and I once kept three which I had captured when quite young, all one summer. 

 These birds which were allowed to go and come as they chose, always spent the night in 

 a barrel which was laid on its side in a loft, the Herons gaining access to it, by passing 

 through a partly opened window. These birds would always come to me when called, and 

 remained about the place until antumn, when they departed, evidently migrating with oth- 

 ers of the same species. 



GENUS II. NYCTIARDEA. THE NIGIIT HERONS. 



GEN. Cu. Bill, quite short and thick. Leys, not very lony. Tail feathers, twelve, stiffened. Head or back, provided 

 with lenthened plume-like feathers. 



Members of this genus are conspicuous on account of their nocturnal habits, their eyes being remarkably large. There 

 are two species within our limits. 



NYCTIARDEA GRISEA. 



Night Heron. 

 Nyctiardea yrisea Sw., Classif. Birds, II; 1837, 354. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cu. Form, robust. Size, large. Tongue, long, slender, and tapering gradually to tip which is pointed. Head, 

 provided with three or four Jong, slender plumes. Lower fourth of tibia, naked. 



COLOR. Adult. Top of head and back, black, glossed with green; remainder of upper surface, yellowish-ash. Fore- 

 bead and under surface, creamy-white. Naked space about head, greenish. Bill, black, yellow at base of lower mandi- 

 ble. Iris, deep carmine. Legs, yellow. 



Young. Similar to the adult, but the black above is replaced by yellowish-rufous; the wings are strongly tinged with 

 rufous, and the plumes are lacking. 



Youny of the year. Dark-brown throughout, with the feathers streaked with yellowish-rufous and the wings are tipped 

 with white. Ashy below, streaked with dusky. Iris, yellow, and feet, greenish. This plumage is retained until the fol- 

 lowing spring. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There is a singular form of this species which occurs both North and South, in which the young become mueh bleached, 

 being, in fact, pale brown, streaked with white. All stages of plumages occur between the youug and adult. Known by 

 the peculiar form, long plumes, and colors as described. Distributed, in summer, from Canada southward; wintering 

 from Massachusetts to Florida. 



' DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 24'75; stretch, 44-60; wing, 12-25; tail, 

 4 35; bill, 2 90; tarsus, 3'15. Longest specimen, 25'50; greatest extent of wing, 45'00; longest wing, 12'50; tail, 4 43; bill, 

 3'15; tarsus, 3'35. Shortest specimen, 84-00; smallest extent of wing, 43'00; shortest wing, 12'00; tail, 4'20; bill, 2'75; tar- 

 sus, 3-00. 



