PLATE XVI. 



GENUS NYCTICORAX (Stephens). 



THE Heron family, especially the nocturnal section, is widely distributed over Europe, Africa, and 

 America, to which Australia contributes one species — the Nycticorax Caledonicus. In manner and 

 habits the whole section strongly resembles the genus Botaurus, particularly in the limpness of their 

 neck plumes. The sexes are similar, but the young for the first year of their existence are blotched 

 and spotted all over. The Australian species only differs from all others of its kind in the rich warm 

 colouring of its feathers. 



NYCTICORAX CALEDONICUS (Latham). 



NANKEEN NIGHT HERON. Genus : Nycticorax. 



THIS is a beautifully plumaged bird, the bluish black of the head contrasting well with the rich nankeen 

 upper and snowy under surfaces. 



It is quite a matter of regret that so lovely a bird should be seldom seen; for though it is 

 generally distributed over the continent, its nocturnal habits destroy the chances of its being often met 

 with. It is migratory to a certain extent, being only a summer visitant to the southern latitudes of New 

 South Wales and South Australia, where it arrives in August or September, and departs again in 

 February. 



Night being the season of its activity, it may be found frequenting swamps, sedgy banks of 

 rivers, and other secluded spots. As soon as morning dawns it retires to the highest trees of the forest, 

 and sleeps, shaded from the sun's rays, through the day. If discovered it is easily shot, for if forced to 

 quit its retreat, it flies a short distance and then alights. 



It flies with a slow flapping motion, its head drawn back between the shoulders, and the legs 

 stretched out behind after the manner of a true Heron ; though when perched or resting on the ground 

 it shows none of the grace of these birds. 



When searching for food the Nankeen Night Heron shows more animation, as quickness and 

 activity are needed to secure such prey as fishes, water lizards, crabs, frogs, leeches, and insects. 



Incubation takes place in the months of November and December, the birds breeding in companies, 

 like the true Herons, in such favourite localities as swampy districts, where an abundance of food can be 

 relied on. The nest — rather large and flat and composed of crooked sticks loosely interwoven — is placed 

 with equal indiscrimination on the branch of a large tree, the point of a shelving rock, or in a cavern. The 

 eggs are usually three in number, and of a pale green color. Their size varies according to the individual 

 experience of different ornithologists ; Dr. Ramsay's measurements differing by half an inch from Gould's. 

 The latter makes them out 2 inches § in length by 1| inches in breadth. Mr. Campbell possesses a pair 

 of eggs in his collection which so nearly correspond with Mr. Gould's that he considers the latter's the 

 typical measurements. 



