Night Heron. 407 



note of the bird, which bellows like an ox. The B.O.U. Committee, 

 however, denies that it is so derived. The specific, steUaria, 

 ' marked with stars (stellce),' not inaptly describes its plumage ; so 

 in Italy it is Sgarza stellare. In some countries it takes its name 

 from the reed beds it frequents, as in Germany Grosse Eohrdrom- 

 mel, and in Sweden tidrdrum ; but in Spain it is Garza 

 mochuelo, literally 'Red Owl Heron/ and in Portugal Gallinhola 

 real, literally ' Royal ' or ' Great Woodcock.' Like many other 

 members of this family, it is a solitary bird, and lies concealed in 

 the rank herbage of a swamp during the day, emerging at twilight 

 to hunt for food in the marshes. Its flesh was very highly 

 esteemed when the bird was better known than it is now. 



147. NIGHT HERON (Nycticorax griseus). 



I am indebted to the Rev. E. Duke, of Lake, for information of 

 the occurrence of a single specimen of this bird, which was killed 

 on his property many years ago, and added to the small collection 

 illustrative of the Fauna of the district formed by Mr. Duke's 

 father, and still preserved at Lake House. The Night Heron 

 is but a rare straggler to the British Isles, its home being in the 

 Southern and Eastern parts of Europe ; but its range is very ex- 

 tensive, for it has been found in all the quarters of the globe. It 

 is, as its name imparts, a night-feeding species, remaining quietly 

 at rest in the reeds on the margins of streams, or on the tops 

 of high trees, during the day, and as evening comes on seeks its 

 food in the marsh, the meadow, and the river. In Egypt I 

 frequently found it in the palm groves, and have shot it as it 

 flew from some lofty palm when disturbed in its day-dreams 

 on the banks of the Nile. This is a bird which has been and is 

 the subject of much superstitious reverence and fear. In Ancient 

 Egypt it was considered the emblem of Osiris, and as such was 

 venerated, if not worshipped with divine honours. We may see 

 its portrait now, depicted on the walls of the tombs at Thebes, 

 with two long plumes depending from its head. In China it is 4o 

 this day looked upon with superstitious dread, and is thought to 

 have some connection with evil spirits ; and under the name of 



