NIGHT HERON, OR QUA-BIRD. 
7 
On entering the swamp in the neighbourhood of one of these 
breeding places, the noise of the old and the young would al- 
most induce one to suppose that two or three hundred Indians 
were choking or throttling each other. The instant an intruder 
is discovered, the whole rise in the air in silence, and remove 
to the tops of the trees in another part of the woods, while 
parties of from eight to ten make occasional circuits over the 
spot to see what is going on. When the young are able, they 
climb to the highest part of the trees ; but, knowing their in- 
ability, do not attempt to fly. Though it is probable that these 
nocturnal birds do not see well during the day, yet their faculty 
of hearing must be exquisite, as it is almost impossible, with 
all the precautions one can use, to penetrate near their resi- 
dence without being discovered. Several species of hawks 
hover around, making an occasional sweep among the young ; 
and the bald eagle himself has been seen reconnoitring near 
the spot, probably with the same design. . 
Contrary to the generally received opinion, the males and 
females of these birds are so alike in colour as scarcely to be dis- 
tinguished from each other ; both have also the long slender 
plumes that flow from the head. These facts I have exhibited 
by dissection on several subjects, to different literary gentlemen 
of my acquaintance, particularly to my venerable friend, Mr 
William Bartram, to whom I have also often shown the young, 
represented at fig. 3. One of these last, which was kept for 
some time in the botanic garden of that gentleman, by its voice 
instantly betrayed its origin, to the satisfaction of all who ex- 
amined it. These young certainly receive their full coloured 
plumage before the succeeding spring, as, on their first arrival, 
no birds are to be seen in the dress of fig. 3 ; but, soon after they 
have bred, these become more numerous than the others. Early 
in October they migrate to the south. According to Buffon, 
these birds also inhabit Cayenne, and are found widely disper- 
sed over Europe, Asia, and America. The European species, 
however, is certainly much smaller than the American, though 
in other respects corresponding exactly to it. Among a great 
