NYCTICORAX GEISEUS. 205 



marisma of tlie Guadalquivir ; but I never observed any near 

 Gibraltar, nor did I ever see them following cattle, like the 

 preceding species. They nest late in the season ; but I regret to 

 be unable to give any personal information as to their breeding- 

 habits. 



This species (beautiful as all the family are) is, to my mind, 

 by far the most handsome and elegant of all the European 

 Herons. 



Head light buff, with crest of from eight to ten elongated, narrow, 

 pointed white feathers, bordered at the sides with black ; plumes on back 

 dark reddish brown to light buff, long and hair-like ; wings, rump, tail, 

 and lower parts, except the buff feathers pendent from neck, white ; bill 

 leaden blue at base, black at tip. Length 18 inches. 



220. Nycticorax griseus (Linnaeus). The Night-Heron. 



Spanish. Garza de noche, Garza gris, Martinete. 



Favier says : " This species is common near Tangier when on 

 migration, passing in small lots, which frequent wooded spots 

 close to lakes and rivers." We saw the Night-Heron near 

 Larache in April, and near Tetuan at the end of March. 



In Andalucia they are entirely migratory, chiefly arriving in 

 April ; but I have no date of their autumnal departure, and never 

 observed any very near to Gibraltar. About the district of 

 Seville they are common, nesting in companies on trees on the 

 Rocina near Rocio and on the banks of rivers like the other 

 smaller Herons, breeding about the middle of May. 



The Night-Heron, as its name implies, is a nocturnal-feeding 

 bird, frequenting trees by day, and if disturbed usually flying 

 from one tree to another ; but I have scarcely ever seen them on 

 the move by day, unless frightened up. 



The immature birds, in their brownish spotted plumage, are, 

 but for their arboreal habits, at a little distance very liable to be 

 mistaken for the Bittern. 



Crown, nape, and back brownish black, with green gloss ; Avings and 

 tail ash-grey. Crest usually of three, but rarely of as many as six long, 



