228 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
THE YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, 
Ardea violacea. 
PLATE LXXXVI1I. FIG. 199. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Ardea violacea. Linn/eus, Syst. Nat. p. 238. Pennant, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 448. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, 
p. 26, pi. 65, fig. 1. 
Botaurus id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol 2, p. 305. 
White-crowncd Heron. Nuttall, Man. Ornilh. Vol. 2, p. 52. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 89, pi. 364. Giraud, 
Birds of Long island, p. 280. 
Characteristics. Ash-colorcd. Crested. Crown, and oblong spot on each cheek yellowish 
white. Several long white occipital feathers : back with long loosely 
webbed occipital feathers. Young : Head and hind neck black, streak¬ 
ed with while ; beneath soiled yellowish, with oblong spots of brown. 
Length, 21 inches. 
Description. Bill stout, straight, compressed, 3'5 long, and O’ 9 deep at the base. Upper 
mandible curved gently from the base, notched near the tip ; edges serrate : nasal furrow 
deep, and extending to within DO of the tip. Nostrils basal, pervious. A distinct scaly 
web between the outer and middle toe, and the rudiments of one between the middle and 
inner toe ; hind claw large and much curved. Feathers on the crown ten to twelve, loosely 
webbed; two of these are from 3'0 to 4-0 long, with their short compact webs rolled in so 
much as to cause the feathers to appear cylindrical: third quill longest. Tail short, nearly 
even. 
Color. Dorsal feathers black in the centre, margined with white ; or otherwise the webs 
become loose and silky, of a slate blue. Crown, oblong dash on the cheeks, and long 
occipital feathers white, with a slight tinge of cream. In more southern specimens, where 
the plumage is more fully developed, these parts are pale reddish yellow, and the dorsal fea¬ 
thers extend beyond the tail. Primaries black. Sides of the head, cheeks, chin and upper 
part of the back of the neck black. Ridge of the wing white. All beneath slate-blue. Naked 
part of the tibia and tarsus yellow. Young, brown, streaked with white and rufous ; base 
of the bill and feet greenish. 
Length, 20'0-23'0. 
This is a rare bird in this State, the specimen which furnished the drawing being the only 
one that I have seen within our territorial limits. It was killed on Long island near the salt- 
marshes, March, 1837. It is no where very abundant, or at least has not been often observed. 
This may be partly attributed to its nocturnal habits, which it shares with the preceding 
species. Mr. A^jlSort states that the crown assumes its yellowish tinge only during the 
breeding season. Eggs bluish green. Feeds on fish, salamanders, tortoises and other aquatic 
reptiles. Its geographical range is supposed to be from the equator to the forty-first parallel. 
It never goes far inland. 
