Nieut-Heron. GRALLATORES. NYCTICORAX. 41 
ving the sound of qua, and by some compared to that pro- 
duced by the retching of a sick person. They live and 
breed together in societies, selecting the highest trees where- 
on to build their nests; and seldom breeding upon the 
ground among marshy spots and reeds, as stated by TEM- 
minck. In North America, where the species is very com- 
mon, the most solitary and shaded part of a cedar-swamp is 
generally chosen *.—The nest is composed entirely of sticks ; 
and the eggs, which are generally four in number, are of a 
pale greenish-blue colour, in size nearly equal to those of the 
Common Heron. As soon as the young have gained suffi- 
cient strength, they climb to the tops of the trees, where they 
are fed by the parents, till they are able to fly, and support 
themselves.—The food of the Night-Heron consists of fish, 
reptiles, and the larger aquatic insects; to which may occa- 
sionally be added some of the smaller mammalia. Their 
prey is swallowed whole; the gullet being very large and 
expansive immediately below the bill, from whence it nar- 
rows to the stomach, which is a soft membranous oblong 
pouch. 
PuaTeE 7. represents the mature bird of the natural size, 
taken from the above mentioned specimen killed by the 
Earl of Home, and now in the Edinburgh Museum. 
The bill is black, inclining to yellow at the base and 
gape; the lores and orbits pale greenish-blue (accord- 
ing to Witsov, bluish-white). The irides deep reddish- 
orange. The crown of the head, nape of the neck, up- 
per part of the back, andi the scapulars, are black, with 
green reflections. The lower part of the back, rump, 
wings, and tail, of a fine pearl-grey. The sides of the 
neck are tinged with .grey; the forehead, throat, and 
ail the under parts, are white. From the nape of the 
* See Wixson’s characteristic and interesting account of this speties in 
his American Ornithology, vol. vii. p. 106, article Night-Heron, or Qua 
Bird. 
Nest, &e. 
Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Adult 
bird. » 
