58 
ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 
in all the inundated lands, in company with the other kinds of Heron, and its food is 
the same. During the day it perches in the mangrove trees, waiting for the sun to 
set before it goes in quest of its prey. In Jamaica, according to Gosse, though com- 
mon, it is much more frequently heard than seen ; and its loud and hoarse quok, heard 
in the dark solitudes, is often a source of great- alarm to the superstitious negro. In 
floating down the larger streams, especially those margined by overhanging man- 
groves, it may be frequently seen, seated on some high branch which commands a 
wide prospect ; but no sooner does a canoe approach, than, spreading its wings, it sails 
heavily off, with its customary outcry. It is vigilant and suspicious, and by no means 
easily shot. “ It is,” adds Mr. Gosse, “ a noble bird. Its commanding height, erect 
attitude, stout-built frame, fiery eye, powerful beak, hanging crest, and handsome 
plumage, give it an imposing aspect.” Crabs and other Crustacea form its principal 
diet. If when wounded it falls into water, it can swim well and rapidly, with head 
erect, and its body not more immersed than that of a duck. The young Night Heron 
in its spotted plumage is known in Jamaica as the Guinea-hen Quok. It is a common 
fall and winter visitant of Bermuda. 
Mr. Ridgway found it quite common in the vicinity of Sacramento City, as well as 
on the banks of the Carson and Truckee rivers, and in the neighborhood of Great Salt 
Lake. Mr. J. A. Allen met with it near Fort Hays, in Western Kansas; and in 
September he found it tolerably common in the valley of Great Salt Lake. Accord- 
ing to Mr. Gosse, it breeds in large communities in Southern Wisconsin, on islands in 
the lakes ; the nest is usually on Ioav trees a few feet from the ground. Mr. Nelson 
also found this species breeding in the almost impenetrable wild rice swamps of Lake 
Michigan, in apparently improbable locations. He saw in Grass Lake — a widening of 
Fox River — over fifty nests placed in the midst of particularly dense bunches of rice, 
the stiff last-year’s stalks of which, converging near the roots, formed a convenient 
base for their support. The nests were all well-built structures, composed of small 
pieces of dead rice-stalks from two to ten inches in length. They averaged from 
twelve to fifteen inches in diameter ; and so firmly were they built, that he could 
stand on them without doing them any perceptible injury. 
Dr. J. G. Cooper states that the Night Heron is common in California throughout 
the year, migrating in the summer at least as far to the north as the Columbia. It 
is found chiefly in the freshwater marshes. He saw one of its breeding-places at 
Santa Cruz, in a small grove of negundo trees, surrounded by cultivated fields and 
near a house. The nests were about the size of those of the Crow, and built in the 
usual loose manner ; about the 1st of June they were observed to contain young. 
A number of Crows and Owls were on the watch for any luckless young bird they 
could manage to steal away in the absence of its parents. The old birds were very 
watchful during Ids visit, and flew around overhead. 
This species appears to be pretty universally distributed over the United States, 
occurring in isolated colonies in situations where food is abundant. It was found in 
numbers throughout Texas by Mr. Dresser ; and Mr. Boardman informs us that its 
heronries are met with on the coast and in the interior of Maine, although the species 
is not abundant in the neighborhood of Calais. According to Giraud, it visits Long 
Island in the early part of April, and remains there until quite late in the autumn ; 
and that writer was informed that it has been occasionally met with in the depth of 
winter. It inhabits the overgrown margins of watercourses and ponds, seldom ven- 
tures abroad by daylight, and at such times is rarely seen, unless met with by acci- 
dent. At twilight it is seen flying over the marshes and following the streams, 
reconnoitring for food, which consists of fishes, frogs, mice, and lizards. When 
