277 



9 



in the least. It climbs about also, like its allies, in the dense reed-jungles and amongst high 

 rushes, with great facility, grasping the stems of the water-plants with its long claws. 



As a rule, the Night-Heron is a tree-breeder ; for though its nest is occasionally placed on 

 low bushes, it is generally built at some altitude in a tree. It is a larger or smaller structure 

 according to circumstances, rather flat in shape, built of dried twigs and thin branches, and lined 

 with leaves of aquatic plants, fine rootlets, &c; and the eggs, four or five in number, resemble 

 those of the common Heron, but are much smaller and paler. In colour they are pale greenish 

 blue, uniform in tinge, and dull, without any gloss ; and those in my collection vary in size from 

 24TT by IU inch to 2-/ - by 1J& inch. 



The specimens figured are an old male and a young bird, both European-killed specimens. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens: — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a,<3. Southern Europe. h,dad. S.W. Formosa, China, 1861 (R. Swinhoe). c,ad. S.W. Formosa, 1866. d,juv. 

 Foochow, November 1866 {Swinhoe). e, 2 . Laguna de Bai, Philippines, December 14th, 1877 {Everett). 

 f, ad. St. Stephen's, New Brunswick, 1864 {G. A. Boardman). 



E Mus. C. A. Wright. , 

 a, ad. Malta, b, <S juv. Malta, June 16th, 1862 (C. A. TV.). 



E Mus. Salvin et Goclman. 

 a, 2- Medellin, U. S. of Columbia, 1876 {Salmon), b. Choctum, Guatemala, 1861. c. Guatemala. 



