1 44 The Stork-like Birds 



Egret (Ardea (or Garzetta) candidissima) is another handsome species, twenty to 

 twenty-seven inches in length, pure white in color, with the plumes of head, neck, 

 and back greatly developed, those of the back extending to or beyond the tail 

 and recurved at the tips. It is or was formerly found throughout all the warm 

 portions of North and South America, though it has been practically extermi- 

 nated in the United States. It is common on the pampas of Argentina, where, 

 Hudson tells us, it is more active and social in its habits than most Herons, being 

 usually seen in small flocks. While there are many other fine Herons, we have 

 space for the mention of but a single additional one, the Agami Heron (Agamia 

 agami) of South America. It is a beautiful bird, about thirty-two inches in 

 length, and, as may be seen from our colored plate, is a glossy dark green 

 above, with ornamental plumes of pearly gray on the lower back. The lower 

 parts are largely chestnut in color, while the head is set off by a crest of slaty 

 blue. It is a native of the dense tropical growth from Mexico to Peru and 

 Brazil. 



The Night Herons (Nycticorax and Nyctanassa\ so called from the fact that 

 they are mainly nocturnal in their habits, are medium-sized Herons, ranging 

 from eighteen to about twenty-four inches in length, of very stout, thick build, 

 with large, thick heads and very thick bills. The prevailing colors are bluish 

 gray, black, and white ; but the plumage of the mature birds is exceedingly dif- 

 ferent from that of the young, being in the latter mainly brownish, striped longi- 

 tudinally with white ; the sexes are, however, similar in each stage, while in the 

 adults there are two or three exceedingly long, thread-like, white occipital plumes. 



About a dozen Night Herons are known, two forms being found in North 

 America. The genus is nearly cosmopolitan, except that it does not range very 

 far north. Perhaps the best-known, and certainly the most widely distributed, 

 species is the Black-crowned Night Heron (N. nycticorax), which ranges from 

 central and southern Europe to the Indian peninsula, China, Japan, the Malay 

 Peninsula, and Africa, and the American form of it which is found from the 

 British possessions to the Falkland Islands and the West Indies. 



The American Black-crowned Night Heron, or Quawk, as it is usually called 

 (N. nycticorax n<zvius\ is larger than its European relative, being from twenty- 

 three to twenty-six inches long. It is uniformly glossy, greenish black above, with 

 the forehead, sides of the head, chin, throat, and lower parts generally white, 

 while the wings, rump, and tail are ash-gray in color. This species is widely 

 distributed, ranging from Ontario and Manitoba southward to the Falkland 

 Islands, including part of the West Indies. It nests in communities, often of 

 great size, and as they are practically nocturnal in their habits, a rookery may 

 often exist without attracting much attention. The following interesting account 

 is from the pen of Mr. F. M. Chapman : "One may gain a far better idea of Heron 

 life by visiting the rookery while the foliage is still glistening with dew. Then, 

 from a distance, a chorus of croaks may be heard from the young birds as they 

 receive what, in effect, is their supper. Old birds are still returning from fish- 

 ing trips, and the frog-like monotone of the young is broken by the sudden 

 quawks of their parents. The trees in which the nests were placed are very tall 



