THE STILT-WALKERS. 83 



the under side are pale straw-yellow, and the three long crest-feathers either quite white or white and 

 black. The eye is of a rich purple, the beak black with yellow base, the bare patch on the head 

 green, and the foot greenish yellow. In the young, the mantle is brown, spotted with brownish 

 yellow and yellowish white ; the throat yellow, and belly white, spotted with brown ; the eyebrows 

 are brown, and the head without crest. This species is from twenty-one to twenty-two inches long, 

 and forty-four broad ; the wing measures twelve inches and a half, and the tail four inches and a 

 quarter. 



The Night Heron is extremely common in Holland in the summer, and is also met with in 

 Germany, Italy, the south of France, and Spain ; occasionally, but very rarely, it has been shot in 

 Great Britain. It visits Africa during the winter, and is found far in the interior of that continent. 

 In northern latitudes it appears about the end of April, and leaves again in September or October. 

 The Night Herons both sleep and breed upon trees, and therefore principally frequent well-wooded 

 localities, whether these be in the vicinity of water or not ; in moist, well-planted regions, however, they 

 are especially numerous. Except during the breeding season they sleep, or at any rate remain quiet, 

 throughout the entire day, and only descend at twilight from their perches in order to seek for food. 

 Upon the ground they progress slowly, with short steps, but move in the air with comparative swiftness, 

 alternating an easy gliding motion with rapid but noiseless strokes of the wings. In places where 

 these birds abound, they are often seen flying together in very large flocks, at a considerable height, on 

 their way to a suitable hunting-ground, over which they generally hover before alighting. Among the 

 branches they climb with an agility that is not exceeded by any member of the family. Their voice 

 is extremely harsh, and somewhat resembles the discordant croak of the Raven. The Night Herons 

 breed from May to July, and usually form regular settlements not only of their own species, but 

 with many allied birds. The large, carelessly-constructed nest is placed high on trees, and contains 

 four or five oval green eggs of very various shades. The female broods, whilst her mate mounts guard 

 quietly perched by her side, or quarrels with and teases other males in his neighbourhood. 



The Great Night Heron of America, which is considered by Audubon and others as a distinct 

 species, is seen as far as the northern and eastern extremities of the United States, but is unknown 

 farther northwards. In the winter it goes as far as the tropics. These birds arrive in Pennsylvania 

 in April, and immediately take possession ot their old nurseries, usually in the depths of a cedar 

 swamp, or of some inundated and inaccessible grove of oaks; there they pass the day till twilight 

 comes, and then the parent birds sally forth to the sea-shores and marshes in search of food for 

 themselves and young, proceeding in marshalled ranks, and uttering from time to time a guttural 

 " kwah," in a hollow voice, that resembles the sound of a person vomiting. The eyries of the 

 " Kwah " birds have been occupied from remote times by eighty or one hundred pairs, and when die 

 trees are felled, they only remove to another part of the same swamp. 



The BITTERNS (Ardetta) are recognisable by their comparatively small size, slender bill, low 

 feathered tarsi, their short wings, in which the second quill is longer than the rest, and weak short 

 tail. The plumage, which is by no means striking in its coloration, varies in hue according to the age 

 and sex of the bird. 



THE LITTLE BITTERN. 



The Little Bittern (Ardetta minutd) is from fourteen to sixteen inches long, and from twenty- 

 one to twenty-three broad ; the wing measures five inches and three-quarters, and the tail two inches. 

 This elegant bird is of a glossy blackish green on the crown, nape, back, and shoulders ; the upper 

 wing and under side are reddish yellow, spotted with black on the side of the breast ; the quills and 

 tail-feathers are black ; the eye and bridles yellow. The pale yellow beak is brown at its culmen ; and 



