BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 
93 
great numbers by mischievous boys they still lay again imme- 
diately after, and usually succeed in raising a sufficient brood. 
The nests, always in trees, are composed of twigs slightly inter- 
laced, more shallow and slovenly than those of the Crow ; and 
though often one, sometimes as many as two or three nests are 
built in the same tree. The eggs, about four, are as large as 
those of the common hen, and of a pale greenish blue color. 
'I’he marsh is usually whitened by the excrements of these 
birds ; and the fragments of broken egg-shells, old nests, and 
small fish which they have dropped while feeding their young, 
give a characteristic picture of the slovenly, indolent, and 
voracious character of the occupants of these eyries. 
On entering these dark and secluded retreats of the Night 
Heron, the ear is assailed by the confused and choking noise 
uttered by the old and young, which, however, instantly ceases 
the moment the intruder is observed ; and the whole throng, 
lately so clamorous, rise into the air in silence, and fly to the 
tops of the trees in some other part of the wood, while parties 
of the old birds, of from eight to ten, make occasional recon- 
noitring circuits over the spot, as if to observe what may be 
going on in their surprised domicile. 
However deficient these nocturnal birds may be in vision 
by day, their faculty of hearing is so acute that it is almost 
impossible, with every precaution, to penetrate near their resi- 
dence without being discovered. As soon as the young are 
able to fly, and long before they are capable of sustained 
ight, they climb to the highest part of the trees near their 
nests, as if to solicit the attention and watch the return and 
protection of their officious parents ; and yet, with every pre- 
caution, the young fall victims to the prowling Hawks, who, 
overing round, make an occasional sweep among their tim- 
orous ranks. 
About the middle of October the Qua Birds begin to retire 
rom this part of Massachusetts towards their southern winter 
quarters, though a few of the young birds still linger occasion- 
ch^ 29th or 30th of that month. Their food consists 
lefly of small fish, which they collect in the twilight or 
