Night Heron. 
NATATORES (Illiger.) — * Swimmers, water birds with webbed 
feet.* 
NESTS. — * Nests have been so little attended to by systematic 
writers, that the most vague and inaccurate descriptions of them are 
usually given. In my little work on the Architecture of Birds, I have 
endeavoured to supply in part what was wanting on this subject ; and 
in my additions to the articles in this Dictionary, Nests form a pro- 
minent feature.* 
NETTLE CREEPER and NETTLE MONGER.— *Names ap- 
plied to the Whitethroat, the Fauvette, and birds of similar habit ; but 
not usually, I believe, to the Blackcap, as stated in books.* 
NICTITATING MEMBRANE.— * A thin sort of elastic skin, 
which birds have the power of drawing over their eyes, as we do our 
eyelids, for the purpose of moistening the eye-ball, and defending it 
from injuries, and particularly for modifying excessive light.* 
NIDIFICATION. — * An Anglo-Latin word, which means Nest- 
building.* 
NIGHT CROW. — A name for the Nightjar. 
