26 BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 



like those of the other species, were built of sticks and placed usually 

 in high trees. In Berks county, near Blue Rock, for many years this 

 species annually reared their young in the edge of a large woods along 

 the margin of which was a good- sized stream of clear running water. 

 In this place many of the nests were built in a bunch of saplings, 

 some fifteen or twenty feet high and so small in diameter that it was 

 impossible to climb them. Wilson has very properly said that the 

 noise of the old and young in one of these breedingiplaces would in- 

 duce one to suppose that two or three hundred Indians were choking 

 or throttling each other. The same writer, in referring to examina- 

 tions which he made, states that the teeth of the pectinated claw were 

 thirty-five or forty in number, and, as they contained particles of the 

 down of the bird, showed evidently from this circumstance that they 

 act the part of a comb, to rid the bird of vermin in those parts which 

 it cannot reach with its bill. 



FOOD. 



The late Isaac G. Darlington, of West Chester, some years ago, had 

 large numbers of gold-fishes in a pond near his residence. One day 

 Mr. Darlington caught twenty-five of these fish and placed them in a 

 small pool, intending to remove them the following morning. About 

 bedtime, Mr. D. said, I heard a loud squawking, and on going out saw 

 two Night Herons actively engaged in catching these fish. I shot one 

 of the robbers, which you there see mounted, on the book-case, and 

 on making an investigation found only one of the fish remaining. 

 "An incident may illustrate the habits of the Night Heron, and per- 

 haps of the whole family. A Night Heron had been noticed for sev- 

 eral days sitting on a tree near a branch of White Clay creek. It was 

 at length shot and brought to me, with the tail of a large fish project- 

 ing four inches beyond its bill. On removing the fish (a sucker Ca- 

 tostorn.us, which must have been twelve inches long), its head and 

 shoulders except the bony portions were eaten away by the gastric 

 liquor of the stomach. This case affords evidence of the facts : 



" 1. Of the great strength and dexterity of the bird to capture so 

 large a fish. 



" 2. Of the instinctive sagacity to swallow the fish head foremost. 



"3. Of the great length of time required to digest so large an ob- 

 ject as it slowly entered the stomach. 



' 4 4:. Of the stolid endurance of the bird under circumstances appar- 

 ently so uncomfortable." Michener. 



I have examined the stomachs of twenty odd of these Herons, adult 

 and young, which have been shot in June at the breeding-grounds, 

 and found in all only the remains of fishes. In two or three imma- 

 ture birds, taken in August and September, I have discovered a few 

 grasshoppers and portions of insects. 



