Nieut-Hreron. GRALLATORES. NYCTICORAX. 39 
is furnished with a few narrow subulated feathers; canalicu- 
lated, and fitted one within the other ; and varying in num- 
ber from two to six, according to the species. Neck short, 
covered with lax feathers; lower part of the neck behind 
clothed only with down. 
This group of the Ardeada, which differs from the Bit- 
terns in the proportions of the bill, and legs, in having the 
neck covered: with shorter feathers, and the hinder part of 
the head furnished with long canaliculated plumes, has latter- 
ly been separated from them, and has also been removed 
from the genus Ardea, under the generic name of Nyctico- 
rax. Like the Bitterns, these birds are nocturnal feeders; 
but, in other respects, their economy is different, and ap- 
proaches nearer to the Herons. Their plumage is not rayed, 
or varied like that of the typical Bitterns; but in large 
masses of distinct and opposed colours. ‘The young are very 
different in appearance from the old birds, and do not attain 
the plumage indicative of maturity till after the third moult- 
ing. 
COMMON NIGHT-HERON. 
Nycricorax Evrorzxus, Steph. 
‘P 
PLATE VII. ann PLATE VIL* 
Nycticorax Europzeus, Steph. Shaw’s Zool. 11. 609. pl. 47. 
Ardea Nycticorax, Linn. 1. 235. 9.—Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 678. 13.—Briss. 5. 
493. 45. t. 39.—Raii, Syn. 99. 3.—Wils. Amer. Orn. 7. 101. 61. f. 2.— 
Wagler, Syst. Av. 1. sp. 31. 
Le Bihoreau, Buff: 7. 455. t. 22. 
Bihoreau, au Manteau Noir, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. 2. 577. 
Der Nacht-Reiher, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 54. 
Ardea Gardeni, Gmel. Syst. 1. 645.—Lath. Ind. 2. 684. sp. 32. 
Butor tacheté ou Pouacre, Buff: 7. 427. | 
Spotted and Gardenian Heron, Lath. Syn. 5. 70. and 71. sp. 3l and 32. > 
Ardea Jamaicensis, Gmel. Syst. 1. 625.—Lath. Ind. 2. 679. 14. 
Jamaica Night-Heron, Lath. Syn. 5. 54. 14. 
Synonym 
of Adult. 
Synonym 
of the 
Young of 
the year. 
