NIGHT HERON, OR QUA-B1RD. 40I 



On entering the swamp in the neighbourhood of one of these 

 breeding places, the noise of the old and the young would 

 almost induce one to suppose that two or three hundred Indians 

 were choking or throttling each other. The instant an intruder 

 is discovered, the whole rise in the air in silence, and remove 

 to the tops of the trees in another part of the woods, while 

 parties of from eight to ten make occasional circuits over the 

 spot to see what is going on. When the young are able, they 

 climb to the highest part of the trees ; but knowing their in- 

 ability, do not attempt to fly. Though it is probable that these 

 nocturnal birds do not see well during the day, yet their faculty 

 of hearing must be exquisite, as it is almost impossible, with 

 all the precautions one can use, to penetrate near their resi- 

 dence without being discovered. Several species of hawks 

 hover around, making an occasional sweep among the young; 

 and the bald eagle himself has been seen reconnoitring near 

 the spot, probably with the same design. 



Contrary to the generally received opinion, the males and 

 females of these birds are so alike in colour as scarcely to be 

 distinguished from each other ; both have also the long slender 

 plumes that flow from the head. These facts I have exhibited 

 by dissection on several subjects to different literary gentlemen 

 of my acquaintance, particularly to my venerable friend Mr 

 William Bartram, to whom I have also often shown the young, 

 represented at fig. 3. One of these last, which was kept for 

 some time in the botanic garden of that gentleman, by its 

 voice instantly betrayed its origin, to the satisfaction of all 

 who examined it. These young certainly receive their full 

 coloured plumage before the succeeding spring, as, on their 

 first arrival, no birds are to be seen in the dress of fig. 3 ; 

 but, soon after they have bred, these become more numerous 

 than the others. Early in October they migrate to the south. 

 According to Buffon, these birds also inhabit Cayenne, and 

 are found widely dispersed over Europe, Asia, and America. 

 The European species, however, is certainly much smaller than 

 the American, though in other respects corresponding exactly 



vol. ir. 2 c 



