60S 
NYCTICOIIAX. NIGHTHERON. 
Generic Character. 
Rostrum baud capite longius, 
validum, basi altius quam 
latum, lateratim compres- 
sum ; mandlbula siiperiore 
paulo incurvum. 
Nares laterales in sulco slta?. 
Caput pennis longlsslmis cy- 
bndraceis instructum. 
Collum breve, crassum. 
Pedes graciles, tetradactyli, 
digit! exteriores basi mem- 
brana connexi ; tingids 
medius margine interna di- 
latatus, pectinatus. 
Beale scarcely longer than tbe 
bead, strong, bigber than 
broad at tbe base, laterally 
compressed ; tbe upper 
mandible somewhat in- 
curved. 
Nostrils lateral, placed in a 
groove. 
Head adorned with very long 
cylindrical feathers. 
Neele short and thick. 
Feet slender, four-toed ; the 
outer toes connected at the 
base by a membrane ; tbe 
middle claw with its inner 
margin dilated and pecti- 
nated. 
Ardea. Ray., Linn., Gmel., Lath., Temm., Cuv., Vieil. 
Botaurus. Briss. 
Cancrofagus. Briss. 
In this genus the neck is more slender than in 
the preceding, but stouter than in the Herons : 
the head is furnished with several straight narrow 
feathers, of a peculiar construction, on its hinder 
