104 



NIGHT HERON 



are concave below^ the upper one enclosing the next, and that again 

 the lower; tho separated by the hand, if the plumage be again 

 shook several times, these long flowing plumes gradually enclose 

 each other, appearing as one; these the bird has the habit of erect- 

 ing when angry or alarmed: the cheeks, neck and whole lower 

 parts are white, tinctured with yellowish cream, and under the 

 wings with very pale ash; back and scapulars of the same deep 

 dark blue, glossed with green, as that of the crown ; rump and tail 

 coverts, as well as the whole wings and tail, very pale ash; legs 

 and feet a pale yellow cream color; inside of the middle claw 

 serrated. 



The female differed in nothing as to plumage from the male, 

 but in the wings being of rather a deeper ash; having not only the 

 dark deep green-blue crown and back, but also the long pendent 

 white plumes from the hind head. Each of the females contained 

 a large cluster of eggs of various sizes. 



The young (fig. 3.) was shot soon after it had left the nest, 

 and differed very little from those which had been taken from the 

 trees, except in being somewhat larger. This measured twenty- 

 one inches in length, and three feet in extent; the general color 

 above a very deep brown, streaked with reddish white, the spots 

 of white on the back and wings being triangular, from the center 

 of the feather to the tip; quills deep dusky, marked on the tips 

 with a spot of white; eye vivid orange; belly white, streaked with 

 dusky, the feathers being pale dusky, streaked down their centers 

 with white; legs and feet light green; inside of the middle claw 

 slightly pectinated; body and wings exceedingly thin and lim- 

 ber; the down still stuck in slight tufts to the tips of some of the 

 feathers. 



These birds also breed in great numbers in the neighbour- 

 hood of New Orleans; for being in that city in the month of June, 

 I frequently observed the Indians sitting in market with the dead 

 and living young birds for sale; also numbers of Grey Owls (Strix 



