101 



NIGHT HERON, OR QUA-BIRD. 

 AEDEA JVYCTICOBAX. 

 [Plate LXL— Fig. 2.] 



J.rcU Zool. JVo. 356.— Le Bilioreau, Buff. Vll, 435. 439, tab. 22. Fl. Enl. 758, 759. 899.— Lath. 

 Syn. V. 3. p. 52. J^o, 13,-—]). 53, Young, called there the Female. — Peaie's Miiseum, JV'o. 3728,— 

 Young, JVo. 3729. 



THIS species, tho common to both continents, and known 

 in Europe for many centuries, has been so erroneously described 

 by all the European naturalists whose works I have examined, as 

 to require more than common notice in this place. For this pur- 

 pose, an accurate figure of the male is given, and also another of 

 what has till now been universally considered the female, with a 

 detail of so much of their history as I am personally acquainted 

 with. 



The Night Heron arrives in Pennsylvania early in April, and 

 immediately takes possession of his former breeding place, which 

 is usually the most solitary and deeply shaded part of a cedar 

 swamp. Groves of swamp oak, in retired and inundated places, 

 are also sometimes chosen, and the males not unfrequently select 

 tall woods, on the banks of the river, to roost in during the day. 

 These last regularly direct their course, about the beginning of 

 evening twilight, towards the marshes, uttering in a hoarse and 

 hollow tone the sound Qucij which by some has been compared to 

 that produced by the retchings of a person attempting to vomit. 

 At this hour also all the nurseries in the swamps are emptied of 

 their inhabitants, who disperse about the marshes, and along the 

 ditches and river shore, in quest of food. Some of these breeding 

 places have been occupied every spring and summer for time im- 



VOL. VII. c c 



