orange ; lore and orbits greenish olive ; crown of the 
head black, with green reflections ; crest arising from the 
back of the head, consisting of three white slender 
feathers, with dusky tips; legs coarse ^nd strong; middle 
claw serrated. In the female the crest is wanting, and it 
otherwise differs so considerably from the male ; that we 
purpose giving a figure of it in a future volunie. 
Though common to various parts of Europe, from Spain 
to Russia, and likewise in America, the Night Heron 
is among the rarest visitants to the British Islands^ bujt 
very few instances occur of its being met with in Great 
Britain. It has the general habits of the Heron tribe, fre- 
quenting the borders of rivers and lakes, and feeding on 
fish, amphibeae, and worms. Its cry is loud and harsh, and 
has been compared to that of the Raven, from whence its 
common name, but why it should be designated the Nigh^ 
Heron or Raven we ape at loss to guess, as the uttering of 
its note during the night time is not confined to this, but 
prevails generally with the Ardea family, and most par- 
ticularly with the Coinmon Bittern, 
According to Latham, it builds in trees or among rocks, 
and lays three or four white eggs. 
