64 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



In tlici adult, plumage, this species is probably considerably darker than N. violaceus, with the 

 black stripes of the upper parts less distinct, perhaps obsolete. 



The Yellow-crowned Heron is a southern si^ecies, not known to breed north of 

 the Carolinas on the Atlantic coast, though occasionally wandering much farther 

 north, both on the Atlantic coast and in tlie interior. It is found along the whole 

 Gulf coast to Mexico, occurs both on the eastern and the western coasts of jMoxico 

 and of Central America, and has been received from South America. On the Pacific 

 coast it has not been taken, to our knowledge, so far north as California, though abun- 

 dant on the Marias and Socorro Islands and the corresponding coast. It is found in 

 and breeds in several of the West India Islands. Professor Newton mentions it as 

 occurring, but as not very common, in St. Croix, where it inhabits the mangrove swamps 

 in the daytime, but leaves them at night to feed in the interior of the island. It is 

 presumed to be resident and to breed in that island, but this has not been positively 

 ascertained. Mr. E. C. Taylor found it abundant in the Oropuche lagoon, in Trini- 

 dad, but he did not meet with any elsewhere on that island. L^otaud also speaks of 

 this Heron as being quite common in Trinidad, where it is both resident and known 

 to breed. Its food, for which it searches in the night, is not different from that of 

 other Herons. During the daytime it keei)s itself closely concealed among the man- 

 grove trees, which fill all the inlets from the sea. At times this bird is very fat, and 

 is then quite good eating. Unlike the Night Heron, it can never be reconciled to 

 captivity, but always retains its wild and untamable character. It is mentioned by 

 Dr. Gundlach as a common resident species in Cuba, where he obtained its eggs. It " 

 is not given by Mr. Gosse, who probably confounded it with the Gardeni, as among 

 the birils of .lamaica, but is mentioned by Mr. March as of frequent occurrence on 

 that island. It is knowni as the Guinea-hen Quok, by which term Mr. Gosse supposed 

 the young of the Ganleni to be designated. Mr. Salvin states that specimens of 

 this bird were among the skins collected by Mr. Leyland in Honduras ; and he after- 

 ward reported that he himself found it not uncommon on the Pacific sea-coast of 

 Guatemala. It is an occasional visitant of Bermuda, both in spring and in fall. It 

 is of rare and accidental occurrence along the Atlantic coast, even as far as IMassa- 

 chusetts. Mr. N. Vickary, of Lynn, obtained a tine specinien that had been killed 

 within the limits of that city in October, 18G2. Mr. George N. Lawrence includes it 

 in liis list of birds obtained near New York City ; and Mr. Giraud states that it occa- 

 sionally extends its visits as far north as Long Island. It is there of entirely noc- 

 turnal habit, keeping hidden in the marshes during the day, and feeding chiefly at 

 night. I'rofessor F. H. Snow records the capture of an adult female Yellow-crowned 

 Night Heron and three young birils at Neosho Falls, Kansas, by Colonel N. S. Goss. 

 The female was in full breeding plumage. One was also taken by Mrs. Maxwell, in 

 Colorado. Mr. Dresser found it more abundant in Southwestern Texas than tlie 

 common Night Heron, but none were seen about Matamoras until AugTist. Mr. A\ il- 



dark lirownish .slate, becoming gradu.ally glaucous-plumbeous on the tertials, remiges, rump, upper tail- 

 coverts, and tail ; elongated scapular [ilumes dark jilumbeous, without black mesial stripe ; wing-coverts 

 narrowly edged with light fulvous or creamy buff ; border of the wing fulvous-wldte, spotted along the 

 inner edge witli dark plumbeous. Neck brownish slate, the foreneck longitudinally stri])ed with pale 

 ochraceous ; reuiaining lower parts similar, but more profusely streaked with light ocliraceous and white. 

 Under-surfaee of the wings nearly uniform iilmidieous. 



Wing, 10.40 ; tail, 4. ,50 ; culmen, 2.60 ; depth of bill through nostrd, .80 ; tarsus, 3.40 ; nuddle toe, 

 2.30 ; bare portion of tibia, 1.50. 



[Described from the type in Mus. Salvin & Godman ; Indefatigable I. Galapagos, Aug. 30, 1878 ; Pr. 

 A. Habel. Length, 21.00 ; extent, 38.00. Iris, orange ; bill, black ; legs and feet, green.] 



