WATER BIRDS. 147 
about Walnut Lake, Oakland county, during the early summer of 1906, 
but no evidence of nesting was obtained. 
We have no record of its breeding in the state. Boies states that “it 
is reported as breeding on islands in St. Mary’s River, but I did not see 
one during my three seasons on the river” (Birds of Neebish Island). The 
report to which Major Boies refers is probably that given in Cook’s Birds 
of Michigan by Hon. Chase 8. Osborn of Sault Ste. Marie, but further 
inquiry has shown that the heronry on Espanore Island is tenanted only 
by the Great Blue Heron, and we have no reason to suppose that any colony 
of the Night Heron will be found so far north. It is rather remarkable 
ae no colonies have been located in the state, but such appears to be the 
act. 
The species breeds ordinarily in large communities, often as many as 
500 or 600 pairs nesting within the compass of a few acres. Usually 
it places its nests in low trees, but in Wisconsin it has been found nesting 
more than once on or near the ground in marshes. Nelson states that 
under such circumstances the nests are placed among the wild rice, but 
Kumlien and Hollister (Birds of Wisconsin, p. 36) state that they have 
always found the nest placed among the cane (Phragmites). When 
placed in trees the nest is composed almost entirely of sticks and twigs. 
The eggs are commonly three or four, clear blue, unspotted, and average 
2.01 by 1.47 inches. 
The species feeds singly, and mostly at night, and its food does not seem 
to differ materially from that of other herons. 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult: Forehead pure white, entire top of head, including the occiput, dark bottle 
green, almost black; entire back and scapulars of the same color, perhaps a little greener, 
the upper surface of wings and tail uniform pearl-gray in strong contrast. From the 
long feathers of the occiput arises a slender, thread-like plume less than one-eighth of an 
inch wide and six inches or more in length, made of two or three pure white feathers laid 
one within the other; chin, throat, and entire under parts pure white; sides and back of 
neck shaded with ashy gray, as are also the sides of the breast and body. Bill mostly 
black; iris bright red; legs and feet yellow or greenish-yellow. Sexes alike. Young of 
the year entirely different; above, light grayish or buffy-brown, each feather with a tri- 
angular streak or spot of whitish; below pretty evenly streaked with light brown and white 
in nearly equal amounts, the chin and upper throat mainly white with few streaks. _ Iris 
yellow; bill and feet nearly asin adult. Length 23 to 26 inches; wing 11 to 12.80; culmen 
2.80 to 3.10; tarsus 3.10 to 3.40. 
