N I G H T H E R O N, A N D B I T T E R N. 4a 



^i' 



head is mofl fpecifically diftlnguifhed by three very flender Vi^hite 

 feathers, five inches long, forming a pendent creft : legs of a yellow- 

 ifh green. The Length, to the tip of the tail, one foot kven 

 inches, ' . 



Inhabits New 2'~ork; and a variety is found as low as Cayenne, Is Place 



common to Europe. Is frequent in the fouthern parts of the Ruji an 

 dominions ; but does not extend farther than lat. 53. It muft not 

 at this time be fought for in the wood near Sevenhuys in Holland, 

 fo noted in the days of Mr. Wilhghby for the vaft rendezvous of 

 Shags, Herons, Spoon-bills, and chefe birds, befides Ravens, V/ood- 

 pigeons, and Turtles *, it being now cut down. When Mr. Wil- 

 lughhy vifited the place it was rented, for the birds and grafs, for 

 three thoufand gilders a year. 



This bird is not the NyJiicorax of the Antients ; which was fome 

 rapacious fowl, probably of the Owl kind. It is the Nacht-rab, or 

 Night-Raven of the Germans ; fo called from its no6lurnal cry, re- 

 fembling the ftraining of a perfon to vomit. 



Br.Zool.\i,'H° i-ji^. — Ardea Stellaiis. Rordrum, F«a». 5;(^i-. N° 164. — Latham, ni. ,5^, Bittern. 



Bittern from Hudfon's Bay, Ed-w. 136. — Le Butor, De Buffon, vii. 411. 430. — PL 

 Enl. 789.— Lev. Mus— Bl. Mus. 



W, With ihe upper mandible dudcy ; lower yellow : feathers on the 

 crown black and long ; on the cheeks tawny ; on the throat 

 white: hind part of the neck brownilh red ; forepart white, beau- 

 tifully marked with fliort ftripes of red, bounded on each fide with 

 one of black: feathers on- the breaft very long : the belly of the 

 colors of the fore part of the neck : back, coverts of wings, and the 

 tail, are ferruginous, traverfed with dufky lines : primaries black : 

 legs yellowifli green. Rather inferior in Size to the European Bit- 

 tern ; but fo like, as not to merit feparation. 



-. Rafs Travels, i. 33. 



3 M a It 



