136 THE BIRDS OF ATJSTEALIA 



There are three forms of this bird in Australia; on the 

 Southern coasts both the white and the grey, which interbreed, 

 and in the Northern portion a darker variety, is also found, as 

 well as the other two forms. 



Nest built of twigs or other material on the ground, 

 frequently under a shelving rock and generally on small 

 islands or reefs. Four eggs are laid, of a delicate bluish colour, 

 and they measure about 1.82 x 1.31 inch. 



Genus Nycticorax. 

 Tarsus as long as mid toe. Bill higher than broad. Two 

 or three long nuchal plumes. 



The Nankeen Night-heron. 



Nycticorax caledonicus. 



Australia, Celebes, Admiralty, and Pelew Islands. 



Above cinnamon, including tail; crown of head black and crested 

 on the nape, and with two long white plumes; eyebrows white; under 

 surface white. The young are everywhere thickly streaked and spotted 

 with buffy white; under surface white, streaked with blackish; they 

 attain their adult plumage in the third year. Total length 19.5 inches, 

 eulmen 3, wing 11.6, tail 3.6, tarsus 3.25. 



When nesting inland they build substantial stick nests on 

 tall trees, usually in companies, but when nesting on the islands 

 off the coast, especially in Western Australia, they build slight 

 structures in sheltered places among the rocks. The four eggs 

 are light bluish-green, and measure about 2 x 1.40 inch. 



Genus Butorides. 

 Bill longer than tarsus. Ornamental nape and dorsal plumes. 



The Thick-billed Green Bittern. 



Butorides stagnatilis. 



Northern Australia, New Guinea, Solomons, Moluccas, Lesser Sunda, 

 Timor, Plores, New Caledonia, Fiji, Society and Friendly Islands. 



Above slaty grey; cheeks and throat brown; long scapular feathers 

 green; lower back greyish green; tail dull green; crown of head dark 

 glossy green; hind neck grey; under surface rusty-brown. Total length 

 17 inches, eulmen 2.8, wing 7.7, tail 2.6, tarsus 1.9. 



