THE NIGHT nERO:N*. 
157 
The Little Bittern is the smallest example of. the 
family to which it belongs, the whole length being about 
thirteen inches : buff and black are its prevailing colours, 
which are not mingled so much as in the other 
species, but in distinct patches. Many examples have been 
taken in this country ; but our naturalists know little of 
its habits from actual observation. It is a native of the 
western parts of Europe, the south-western parts of Asia, 
and probably of a large portion of Africa ; as is also the 
Squacco Bittern, or Squacco Heron, as it is as frequently 
called ; a very beautiful bird, of a delicate buff, shaded with 
brown and white, of which a few specimens have been 
obtained here ; it is about nineteen inches in length. 
The Night Heron {Nyctkorax Gm-deni), sometimes 
called the Night Eaven. — In the restricted genus Nycticorax 
(which term is the Latin for Night Crow), we have a sort oi 
connecting link between the Bitterns and true Herons; this 
genus includes the Night Herons, of which the above is the 
single British representative ; they are generally of a more 
robust form and more active habits than the other Herons. 
The bird just named is about twenty -three inches in 
length. The plumage on the upper parts is black, or nearly 
so, glossed with green ; and on the under parts white and ash 
grey. Like the Bitterns it inhabits marshy places, hiding 
by day, and stealing forth at night to feed on reptiles, fishes, 
and aquatic insects, which it swallows whole ; it builds 
in trees, and lays four pale green or blue eggs, rather more 
than two inches in length. This bird was named Gardeni 
in honour of Dr. Garden, of South Carolina ; Dr. Latham 
called it the Spotted Heron, from the elongated white spots 
on the wings of the young bird. This species has a wide 
geographical range, being found in Europe, Asia, Africa, 
and North America, most plentifully in the warmer parts. 
With us it is a rare visitant. 
The Grey Heron {Ardea cinerea), sometimes called 
the Common or Crested Heron, or Heronshaw. — The 
Purple Heron {A. purpurea). — These birds are the only 
British representatives of the genus Ardea — the Herons 
properly so called — which are among the larger and 
