500 BRITISH BIRDS. 



the former the small flat wicker-nests of the Night- H^ron may be seen in 

 all directions^ some only a foot or so from others; and the croaking 

 and flapping and fighting that goes on overhead bears some distant resem- 

 blance to the crowded deck of an emigrant steamer on first encountering 

 a turbid sea. The granite slabs that form the pavement beneath these 

 trees are so bedaubed with the droppings of old and young, that permission 

 to scrape them clean daily might prove a fine speculation for the guano- 

 collector. The birds, from the protection afforded them, were remarkably 

 tame, and we could stand beneath the trees and watch them without their 

 evincing the slightest fear. This was in April. Some might be seen 

 sitting on their nests, with their long legs bent under them, the weight of 

 their bodies resting for the most part on the tarsal joint ; others standing 

 on single leg close by, with shortened neck, the beak and head occasionally 

 moving partially round as on a pivot ; others flapped to and fro, ruffling 

 up their head-gear, and occasionally sparring together. In their various 

 movements, the dark-green-black of the head and back, with the thin 

 snow-white occipital streamers flowing and quivering over the latter, gave 

 a quaint, though not ungainly, look to the birds. From some of the nests 

 we heard a subdued chattering like the cry of young, and it was to feed 

 these hungry mouths that the parents were constantly leaving the trees to 

 seek for food at all times of the day, while others were returning with 

 supplies. As the sun set, however, they became more active. While I sat 

 watching them from a neighbouring roof-top in the evening, numbers of 

 them emerged from the leafy darkness, and one by one settled on the stark 

 bare outstanding arms of the cotton-tree. After resting for a little time 

 like gaunt spectres on the tree-top, off they went, one after the other, 

 with a kwa — seldom more than two in the same direction. As darkness 

 set in, many returned, and the noise and hubbub from the trees rose to a 

 fearful pitch. Until night hid them from my view, I could see the old 

 birds going and coming, and hear the clamour of the young. What kind 

 of nocturnal slumbers the priests enjoyed in the temple below, I never took 

 the trouble to inquire, though I have little doubt that from constant use 

 the noise of these croakers has become quite essential to their good night's 

 rest. Though these birds moved about very much during the day, yet it 

 strikes me that twilight is the most active time with them, and that in 

 most instances the departures during the day were to seek food for the 

 newly-hatched young, which would require feeding oftener at first, and 

 perhaps with more choice food. I sent my man up one of the trees, 

 whence he brought down three nests, two of which contained eggs, and the 

 third two young birds and one egg. Judging from their size, one of these 

 little birds must have been born at least three days before the other ; and 

 on opening the egg I found a live chick inside, which would have required 

 at least two days before it could have ventured out. The varying stages 



