8o Birds of Canada. 



glossy-green feathers. This Heron is occasion- 

 ally seen in Canada in the spring. Nests, in 

 trees in swampy woods ; eggs, four in number ; 

 of a pale light blue color. Feeds upon crabs, 

 frogs, and worms. 



Nyctiardea Gardcnii. The Night Heron. 



The Night Heron arrives in the vicinity of 

 Toronto about the fifteenth or twentieth of April. 

 General color, above, steel-green ; wings and 

 tail, ashy-blue ; under parts and sides, a lilac 

 color. Length, twenty inches ; the bill is 

 slightly arched, strong, and black. During the 

 day this bird is often seen perched upon the 

 top of a tall tree in a swamp, but when night 

 approaches it begins its flight in pursuit of food, 

 which consists principally of insects, frogs, lizards, 

 and fish. The nest of the Night Heron is built 

 in a tree ; eggs, four ; of a greenish-yellow color. 



FAMILY GRUID^E. THE CRANES. 



Grus canadensis. The Sandhill Crane. 

 The Sandhill Crane is an accidental visitor ; 

 a few specimens are occasionally seen during the 

 spring and autumn migrations. Breeds in Mani- 

 toba and British Columbia. Length, fifty inches ; 

 beak, four inches ; top of the head covered with 

 a red skin ; neck, gray ; belly, breast, sides, and 

 thighs, ash color ; tail, deep ash color ; legs and 

 bare part of the thigh, black. 



