NIGHT-HERON. 



NYCTICORAX GRISEUS {Linn. 



Ardea grisea, Linn. S. N. i. p. 239 (1766). 



Ardea nycticorax, Naum. ix. p. 139, xiii. p. 2 9 ; Hewiison, 



ii. p. 313. 

 Nycticorax gardtui, Macg. iv. p. 433. 

 Nycticorax griseus, Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 195; Dresser, vi. 



p. 269. 



Heron bihoreau, French; Ndchtliche Rohrdommel, Ger- 

 man ; Garza de noche, Martinele, Spanish. 



This very beautiful bird is a somewliat uncommon 

 summer visitor to our islands, and there can be little 

 doubt of its having bred in England occasionally, though 

 there is, I believe, no positive record in print of 

 the fact. 



The Night-Heron is a very common spring migrant to 

 the southern and central countries of Europe, and breeds 

 in large colonies in Southern Spain and in the valley of 

 the Danube. The nest, when not built amongst reeds, 

 is a slender platform of sticks, much resembling that of 

 the Wood-Pigeon. 



The subjects of the Plate were taken from life in the 

 Lilford aviaries. 



