504 BIKDS — ARDEIDJS. 



NyctialEdea skisea (L.) Steph. 

 var. NJEVIA (Bodd.) Allen. 



Night Heron. 



Ardea discors, Kirtland, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 165, 184. 



Nyctiardea gardeni, Whkaton, Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1860, 368, 377 ; Reprint, 1861, 10, 19. 



Nyctiardea grisea, var. noema, Wheaton, Food of Birda, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874; 



Reprint, 1875, 13. — Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., Ib77, 15 ; Journ. Cin. Soo. Nat. 



Hist., i, 1878, 117 ; Reprint, 8 ; Revised List, Journ. Cm. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 184; 



Reprint, 18; Field Notes, ib., ii, 1880, 127.— Dury and Fkeeman, ib.,iii, 1880, 104; 



Reprint, 5. 



Ardea discors, Nuttall, Man. ii, 1834, 54. 



Ardea ncevia, BoDD.a;RT, Plaach. El, 1784, 939. 



Nyctiardea gaideni, Baird, Birds N. Am,, 1858, 678. 



Nyctiardea grisea, var. nasvia, Allkn, Ball. M. C. Z , iii, 1872, 182. 



No peculiar feathers excepting two or three very long filameatoTis plnmes sprirging 

 from the occiput, generaljy imbricated in one handle ; bill very stout ; tarsi reticulate 

 helow in front ; length, about 2 feet ; wing, 12-14 inches ; hill, tarsus, and middle toe, 

 about 3. Crown, scapulars and inter-scapulars very dark glossy-green ; general plum- 

 age bluish-gray, more or less tingid with lilac; forehead, throat line and most under- 

 parts whitish ; occipital plumes white ; bill black ; lores greenish ; eyes red ; feet yellow. 

 Young very different; lacking the plumes; grayish-brown, paler below, extensively 

 speckled with white ; quills chocolate-brown, white-tipped. 



Habitat, United States and British Provinces. Breeds abundantly in New England. 

 Winters in the South and beyond. Part of the West Indies. Mexico. Central America. 

 South America. 



The Night Heron is not an uncommon bird in all suitable localities in 

 the State, probably breeding in retired swamps. I do not know postively 

 of its breeding within the State, but Mr. Langdon records the capture of 

 full fledged young at Madisonville, in June and July. In this vicinity 

 it is most common in the fall. As its name indicates it is more nocturnal 

 in its habits than other members of this family, and on that account 

 more frequently heard than seen. Its note is a loud hoarse squawk. 



Genus BOTAURUS. Stephens. 



No peculiar crests or plumes. Sexes similar. Tail of ten feathers. Tarsi shorter than 

 middle toe. 



BoTAURUS MINOR (Gm.) Boio. 



Blttei*ii ; XzidiELii flen. 



Ardea minor, Kirtland, Ohio Geolog. Surv., 1838, 165. 



Botanrus Imtiginosus, Whkaton, Ohio Agric. Rep for 1860, 368 ; Reprint, 1861, 10 ; Field 



Notes, i, 1861, 129.— Trembly, ib , i, 1861, 180. 

 Boiaurus minor, Whkaton, Food of Bird's, etc., Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1874, 573; Reprint, 



187.^;, 13. — Langdon, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 15; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soo. Nat. 



Hist., i, 1879, 184 ; Reprint, 18 ; Summer Birds, ib., iii, 1880, 227. 



