NYCTICORAX GRISEUS. 
Nig’ht-Heron. 
Ardea nycticorax, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 235. 
gri^ea, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 239. 
Nycticorax europceus, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xi. pt. ii. p. 609, pi. 47. 
7iycticorax, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 560. 
Gardeni, Bonap. Geog. and Comp List of Birds of Enr. and N. Am., p. 48. 
ardeola, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. iv. p. 384. 
griseus, G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 558, Nycticorax, sp. 1. 
Nyctiardea eiiropcea, Swains. Class, of Birds, vol. ii. p. 355. 
Ardea (^Scotceiis) tiycticorax, Keys, et Bias. Wirbelth. Eur., p. 80. 
Nyctirodius nycticorax, Macgill. Man. of Nat. Hist., Orn., vol. ii. p. 127. 
About six or seven species of the genus Nycticorax are now known, one or other of which inhabits nearly 
every portion of the globe. Australia is frequented by Nycticorax cnledonicus, Manilla by N. manillensis, 
Borneo by N. cra&mostrh. Chili and the Malouine Islands by N. obscurus, the West Indies and South 
America by N. violacea, and North America by the last-named species and N. Gardeni ; while the bird 
here figured is distributed over Europe, the greater part of Africa, India, and China. In England the 
Nycticorax griseus is only an accidental visitor, and does not breed with us, for the simple reason that 
every individual which makes its appearance is ruthlessly shot before it has time to await the coming of 
a mate. On the continent of Europe the bird is more common, and, being less persecuted, breeds 
and rears its young in many of the southern countries. Although I have stated that its appearance 
in England is accidental, repeated instances of its occurrence have come under my notice ever since 
I was a boy, when a specimen which had been killed in Windsor Great Park was sent to me in the 
flesh. Lord Lilford has seen two or three in a season on his estate at Oundle, in Northamptonshire ; and 
in May 1858 the late Eaid of Craven presented me with a splendid male, which his keeper had shot on 
the 6th of that month at his seat, Coombe Abbey, in Warwickshire. In Ireland it is of very rare 
occurrence ; and up to the year 1852 very few had been met with in Scotland. 
In the daytime, the Night-Heron is a heavy, sleepy bird, and is usually seen perched on a branch of a 
tree skirting a forest, whence it sallies forth on the approach of evening, and passes the night in the 
marsh, by the river-side, or on the border of a large pond, in search of frogs, newts, and other aquatic 
animals, not refusing insects and molhisks on the one hand or the fry of fishes and shrew-miee on 
the other. The sexes are alike in colour and in the decoration of the nape, whence spring two or three 
lengthened white plumes which fall gracefully over the back. The young, on the contrary, are reddish 
brown, spotted with white, a style of plumage which constantly varies until the bearer attains the adult 
livery — a period of at least two years. It is this diversity in the colouring of the young and old Night- 
He rons which has so greatly increased the synonymy of the species — a circumstance much to be regretted, 
since its earlier name of grisea is very inappropriate ; but the modern law of nomenclature, which requires 
the adoption of the earliest specific appellation, does not admit of a more fitting term being employed. 
Both Lord Lilford and Mr. Howard Saunders inform me that the Night-Heron is numerous in spring and 
summer in the wooded marshes on the Guadalquivir, below Seville, and that it breeds there in colonies ; in 
one thicket Mr. Saunders saw nests not more than from five to fifteen feet from the ground. 
Bailly, speaking of the bird in Savoy, says : — “ It is rarely met with in this country ; the few that do visit 
us arrive in April and May, and the bird is seldom to be seen at any other season. It breeds in several of 
the southern regions of France, where it builds its nests in marshes among reeds atid rushes, upon a stump 
or willow standing in the water. The eggs are three or four in number, of a pale greenish blue. Like the 
Herons and Bitterns, these birds arrive at night, at the end of the evening twilight, and very early in the 
morning, generally one at a time, but sometimes in couples (male and female). Then occasionally may be 
heard tbeir lugubrious croaking, which, being uttered at night, has obtained for the bird the name of Nycti- 
corax (or Night-Raven), given to it by Linnaeus. During the daytime it conceals itself in the reeds or 
shruhs, or perches on the tallest trees, remaining the greater part of the day without moving. After sunset 
it leaves its retreat, and seeks for food or resumes its journey. It is neither wild nor wary, and is not easily 
frightened, but shrinks, as it were, into itself and remains in a state of immobility until the intruder has 
passed. It may be attracted by imitating its cry, which is very similar to that of the Common Crow, moak, 
moak. Like the Bittern, it is dangerous when wounded, as it defends itself vigorously.” 
