$06 
Synopsis of the Birds 
rather short, thick, densely covered with long, broad, loose, 
erectile feathers, merely downy above. Body plump. 
Chiefly nocturnal. Keep in marshes, sedgy places. Feed 
principally on reptiles, insects, worms, and spawn; seldom 
on fishes. When excited erect their neck feathers. 
f Adult with long , narrow , tapering , occipital feathers, 
231. Ardea violacea, L. Crested; ash, beneath paler ; up- 
per parts streaked with black, with long, loosety-webbed 
tapering feathers ; crown, and spot on each cheek white; 
two occipital feathers. 
Yellow-crowned Heron , Ardea violacea , Wils, Am, Orn 
mii, p, 26. pi, 65. fig, l. adult. 
Inhabits common in the southern and south-western states, 
and the West Indies ; extending its migrations occasionally 
to the middle ones. 
232. Ardea pnycticorax, L. Whitish ; crown and back green- 
ish-black ; rump, wings and tail, pale ash ; three whitish 
occipital feathers. 
Young, brown streaked with reddish-white; beneath white, 
streaked with duskv ; wing and tail feathers plain dusky, the 
former with a spot of white at tip : no occipital feathers. 
Night Heron , or Qua bird , Ardea nycticorax , Wils. Am. 
Orn. vii. p. ill- pi. 51 • fig. 2. adult, fig. 3 . young. 
Inhabits both continents : common in Pennsylvania and 
New-Jersey : leaves the northern and middle states during 
winter. 
233. Ardea ccerulea, L. Crested; bluish-slate; feathers of 
the back and breast, slender and elongated ; head and neck 
purplish-brown ; three occipital feathers. 
Young not crested, head and neck of the same color with 
the body. 
Blue Crane , or Heron, Ardea ccerulea, Wils. Am. Orn. vii . 
p. 117 . j pi 62. fig. 3 . adult. 
