214 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



spring, except for a few innermost secondaries and greater coverts, 

 wing -feathers and coverts are not moulted nor tail. 



First summer. — A complete moult takes place Feb -April, after 

 which bird becomes much like adult winter, but crown, mantle and 

 scapulars are glossed duller green, grey of rest of plumage is con- 

 siderably tinged brown, innermost secondaries have dark greenish 

 tinge, inner lesser wing-coverts brown with small buff tips, long 

 white crest -plumes shorter than is usual in adults. After next 

 autumn moult apparently becomes like adult. 



Measurements and structure. — <J wing 265-300 mm., tail 95- 

 110, tarsus 65-75, bill from feathers 65-80 (12 measured). $ wing 

 270-285, bill 66-75. Primaries : 2nd and 3rd longest, 4th some- 

 times as long but usually 2-5 mm. shorter, 1st 2-10 shorter, 5th 

 15-20 shorter, 6th 25-30 shorter, 7th 40-50 shorter ; 2nd to 4th 

 emarginated outer and 1st and 2nd inner webs. Bill comparatively 

 short, deep and compressed, distal third of upper mandible curved 

 and tapering to rather blunt point with notch on cutting edge, 

 lower mandible slightly shorter and with finer point. Rest of 

 structure as in Common Heron. 



Soft parts. — Bill green-black, line along cutting edge of upper 

 and of lower mandible green-grey ; lores and round eyes greenish ; 

 legs and feet pale yellow with faint greyish tinge in front (juvenile 

 green-yellow) ; iris crimson (juvenile brown). 



Characters and allied forms. — N. n. ncevius (N. and S. America) 

 is larger. Stout bill and general black and grey colouring and long 

 white crest-plumes of adult, and brown streaked and spotted with 

 buff of juvenile distinguish species. 



Field -characters. — Shy and secretive, abroad mainly from dusk 

 to dawn. In flight very short and broad appearance distinctive ; 

 very broad wings, head retracted as in other Herons and thus in 

 adult black of crown and mantle are joined and give appearance 

 above of broad black central line surrounded with grey. Note 

 harsh croak. (H.F.W.) 



Breeding-habits. — Usually breeds in colonies with other Herons, 

 sometimes nesting on tamarisk bushes or in sedge and reed-beds, 

 on pollarded willows or among branches of high trees. Nest. — 

 Varies according to site, but usually small and flat, built of dry 

 twigs, sometimes reeds, rushes, etc. Eggs. — Usually 4 — sometimes 

 5, rather pale blue, unmarked. Average of 100 eggs 49.5x35.3. 

 Max. : 56.5 X 34.7 and 51 x 38. Min. : 43.7 X 35 and 48.7 X 31 mm. 

 Breeding -season. — From early May in S. Spain ; usually May in 

 Roumania and apparently about end of May in central Europe. 

 Incubation. — Chiefly at any rate by female. Period given by 

 Wunderlich as 21 days. Single-brooded. 



Food. — Small fish (eels, etc.), frogs, mollusca (snails), crustaceans, 

 worms and insects chiefly found in marshes (water-beetles, etc.), 

 mice also recorded. 



