NIGHT HERON, OR QUA-BIRD. 
5 
NIGHT HERON, OR QUA-BIRD — ARDEA NYCTICORAX. 
Plate LXI. Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Young. 
Arct. Zool. No. 356 Le BicLoreau, JBuff. vli. 435, 439. rol. 22 ; PI. JEnl. 758, 
759, 999 Path. Syn. iii. p. 52, No. 13; p. 53, young, called there the fe- 
male. — Peak's Museum, No. 3728 ; young. No. 3729. 
NYCTICORAX GARDENIL* 
Ardea nycticorax, Temm. Man. ii. p. 577. — Gardenian Heron, Mont. Orn. Diet. i. 
— Bonap. Synop. p. 306 Wagl. Syst. av. Ardea, No. 31. 
This species, thougli common to both continents, and 
known in Europe for many centuries, has been so erroneously 
described by all the European naturalists whose works I have 
examined, as to require more than common notice in this 
place. For this purpose, an accurate figure of the male is 
given, and also another of what has till now been universally 
considered the female, with a detail of so much of their history 
as I am personally acquainted with. 
* Nycticorax, or night raven, has been adopted to designate this from among 
the ardeadee, from the circumstance of their feeding by night, and remaining in 
a state of comparative rest and inactivity during the day. New Holland and 
Africa each possess a species. Europe and North America have one in common 
to both countries ; in the former, abundantly distributed, while, in the latter, 
it is of rare occurrence even towards the south, and in the northern parts of 
Great Britain, only a few instances have occurred of its capture. 
In form, they are intermediate between the bitterns and true herons ; the bill 
is short, and stronger in proportion than in either ; the feathers on the sides of 
the neck are lengthened, and cover the hinder part, which is bare to a certain 
extent ; and in all the species, the hind head is adorned with (generally three) 
narrow feathers, in the form of a crest. They feed by twilight, or in clear 
nights ; and take their prey by watching, in the manner of the herons. They 
are gregarious, build on trees, and during the season of incubation are noisy and 
restless. 
The colours in the adults of the true species, are ash grey, or pale fawn ; 
the crown and hind head, and the back, or that part called by the French 
manteau, in the ash grey species, dark glossy green ; in the fawn coloured, deep 
chestnut. The young are always of a duskier tinge, and have the centre and 
tips of each feather white, giving the plumage a spotted appearance. — En. 
