NVCT1ARDF.A GRISEA. 417 



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DESCIUITION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on tree-; nnd ivinposeil , if sticks, somewhat loosely arranged. #'/'. three to five in number, varying 

 from elliptical to ovnl in form, pale bluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from l'35x 1 '90 to T55x'.M5. 



I1AIUTS. 



The Night Herons arc among the most widely distributed of the family, uud their cries 

 may be heard in almost any section, from Maine to Florida, as they make their nightly ex- 

 cursions from their roosts to their feeding grounds. The notes uttered by these birds, which 

 are loud and abrupt, have gained for them a number of uncouth appellations, among which 

 Quak, Squak, and Gobly-gossit are examples. As may be inferred from the name, these 

 Herons are decidedly nocturnal in habit, seeing remarkably well by night, during which 

 time, they usually feed; but in the breeding season, when they have their young to care 

 for, they fish by day-light, as well as during the hours of darkness. It has been affirmed 

 by some, that the Night Herons are furnished with a phosphorescent light on the peculiar 

 powder patches, with which all the Herons are provided and which usually lie along the 

 breast; but I now think that this, perhaps, is a matter of question, as tame Night Herons 

 which [ have kept, exhibited no such peculiarities. It is probable, however, that the oily 

 powder which readily falls from the short, downy feathers, tends to attract fish, as it is not 

 uncommon to find it floating on the water in which a Night Heron has been standing. 



The Night Herons deposit their eggs in Florida, from the middle of March to the mid- 

 dle of April, and in the North, they breed from the first of May until June. Heronries of 

 these birds are particularly filthly, when compared with those of other Herons, as the birds 

 appear to bring in a much greater supply of fish, than is eaten by the young, and this eith- 

 er fidls to the ground and decays, or is left on the nests. Then the young Herons are 

 always ready to disgorge the contents of their stomachs, upon the slightest provocation, 

 and the half digested fish which they throw up, has an exceedingly disagreeable odor. 

 These Herons are very noisy birds, even when unmolested, and both young and old keep 

 up a continual discord, the adults croaking or emitting guttural cries, and the young an- 

 swering by chattering. When an intruder enters their abode, however, these sounds are 

 increased some ten fold, for then, every bird not only joins in the chorus, but each appears 

 to try to outdo the others, in giving vent to the most uncouth and ear-grating sounds; in 

 fact, if one wishes to acquire a good idea of pandemonium, let him visit a large Night Her- 

 onry. 



These birds are not particularly wild wh< n they are not shot at, and will often alight 

 on the trees over the head of the collector. When taken young, they become very tame, 

 and I once kept five for a season. These birds surprised me, by the variety of disposition 

 which they displayed. For example, one was very affectionate and would always run to 

 meet me before the others saw me, and delighted in perching on my knee, and in allow- 

 ing me to caress him; another was extremely neat and sleek in appearance, but this bird was 

 quite shy and never allowed me to touch him. While a third was noticeably untidy, his 

 feathers always presenting a milled appearance; this bird was remarkably greedy, and on 

 one occasion, when 1 was chopping some fish for them with a hatchet, he reached out tor 

 a morsel, just as the instrument was falling, and before I could check the blow, the upper 

 mandible of (lie Heron was completely severed. This ftccidenl did not appear to troublo 



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