Night Heron. 



NATATORES (Illiger.) — * Swimmers, water birds with webbed 

 feet.* 



NESTS. — * Nests have been so little attended to by systematic 

 writers, that the most vague and inaccurate descriptions of them are 

 usually given. In my little work on the Architecture of Birds, I have 

 endeavoured to supply in part what was wanting- on this subject ; and 

 in my additions to the articles in this Dictionary, Nests form a pro- 

 minent feature.* 



NETTLE CREEPER and NETTLE MONGER.— *Names ap- 

 plied to the Whitethroat, the Fauvette, and birds of similar habit ; but 

 not usually, I believe, to the Blackcap, as stated in books.* 



NICTITATING MEMBRANE.— * A thin sort of elastic skin, 

 which birds have the power of drawing- over their eyes, as we do our 

 eyelids, for the purpose of moistening- the eye-ball, and defending- it 

 from injuries, and particularly for modifying- excessive light.* 



NIDIFICATION. — * An Anglo-Latin word, which means Nest- 

 building.* 



NIGHT CROW.— A name for the Nightjar. 



