18 
ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 
of the beach. In its habits it is diurnal as well as nocturnal. It may be observed 
by day wading out on the shoals, collecting crabs and various species of shell-fish, 
and at other times standing in the water up to its knees, with its bill poised ready to 
strike its prey. It is then especially shy, intently observing everything that is pass- 
ing within a wide circle. Yet even this bird, vigilant as it is, may be enticed by 
decoys within gunshot ; and by many its flesh is very highly esteemed 
It will venture even more fearlessly forth at night in quest of food, always stand- 
ing in the same motionless posture, with bill ready poised for the coming of its prey. 
While in this position its plumage is parted, exposing a portion of the breast, which 
is said to be furnished with a downy substance emitting a phosphorescent light. By 
some this is called the bird’s lantern, and is said to be serviceable to it while fishing, 
both by attracting its prey, and by showing it where to strike. Even in dead speci- 
mens this luminous substance is said to give out a pale glow, not unlike that produced 
by decaying wood. 
This Heron was met with by Mr. J. A. Allen in September, in the Valley of 
Great Salt Lake, where it was quite common. Mr. Bidgway also found it an abun- 
dant species in the wooded valley of the Truckee River, and breeding in numbers on 
all the rocky islands in Pyramid Lake. Several of its nests, containing from three to 
four young each, were found on the large island. These were very bulky, but well 
made, composed of sticks, and placed on the tops of the greasewood bushes ( Obione ), 
about five feet from the ground. Those on the “ Pyramid ” were placed among the 
rocks, at varying heights above the water. Among the marshes around Great Salt 
Lake, and in the tide lagoons near Sacramento, he also found it abundant. 
Wilson found this Heron breeding in the gloomy solitudes of the tallest cedar- 
swamps in the lower parts of New Jersey, where, if undisturbed, it continues many 
years in succession. The young are hatched about the middle of May, and are unable 
to fly until they are as large as their parents. It breeds but once in a season. The 
noise which this Herqn makes when disturbed in its breeding-place is said sometimes 
to resemble the honking of a goose ; at other times it is a hoarse, hollow grunting 
sound, like that of a hog, but louder. 
Like the common Heron of Europe, which it closely resembles in many other 
respects, this bird is of solitary habit, excepting during the breeding season, going in 
pairs only from March to August ; the rest of the year leading a solitary life. Fu- 
rious battles are said to take place between the males at the beginning of the 
pairing season. 
Mr. 1ST. B. Moore has supplied some very interesting observations upon the habits 
of this species, tracing the history of a pair from the first labor of making a nest, 
through the periods of egg-laying, incubation, and rearing their young. They were 
observed at the nest with a field-glass, and were first seen Feb. 5. One was carrying 
sticks to a certain willow growing in a pond. The other was standing in a part of 
the tree near the top, or fifteen feet from the mud below. This was the female, and 
a few sticks were placed near her. The sticks, broken from the blasted willow-tops, 
were brought by the male. He generally alighted with them a little higher than 
she. The latter reached up her bill, took them, and placed them on the pile, each in 
its proper place. The work was so carried on to its completion — the male acting as 
procurer of materials, his mate as architect. During these labors, the female seems 
by far the more impatient to advance the business. She takes the stick from him and 
lays it in its place ; and if he stops, and seems loath to leave her side, she motions him 
to leave, though no sound is heard, and away he goes for another stick. The sticks 
were carried, not across the bill, but pointing out before it, in aline with it. Neither 
