Genus NYCTICORAX.
G lK ' ChA; - M V7 ■ Io" g - * • » th e head, c o m p e t e d ; u p p e r man dib le
cu rv ed tow a rd s th e p o rn t ; m ax illa su lc a ted fo r th ree fourths o f t o le u g t h and ema rginated -
cu lmcn ro u n d ed ; tonna o f b o th mandibles straigh t an d sharp, th a t o f th e u n d e r m an d ib lj
en te r in g w ith in th e u p p e r one. N o s tr ils basal, lon g itu d in a l, p la c ed in th e fu r row o f th e
m a x illa , an d covered ab ove b y a naked membrane ; lores and orbits nak ed . L e g s o f mean
len g th , slender. T oes th ree b efo re and one b e h in d ; middle toe shorter than th e tarsus
e x te n o r toe connected b y a membrane to th e middle one as fa r as th e first jo in t . C la n s
short, falcated, that of the middle toe pectinated; Ttbice naked for a short space above the
tarsal joint. r
COMMON NIGHT HERON.
N y c t ic o r a x Europaeus, Steph.
L e B ih o re au k M an teau noir.
No birib we conceive, can belter show the necessity o f minor subdivisions o f large families than the Common
Night Heron. The genus N y c H e ^ s now, we believe, universally acknowledged: s e v e n a t l e j a r e
known to us, most o f which are inhabitants o f remote and distant regions; one beina found at Ter™ d 1F
anot er in New South Wales, and a new one having been lately d i s c o v e r t S l a
ih e Common Night Heron is the only species found in Europe, over the whole o f whirl« it A’,e a
also over the whole o f Asia, and the northern regions o f Africa; and i f not identical, the Night H e ro n TN o r te
America bears so great a resemblance to the European bird, as to require an experieneed eye to detect the
difference: the American birds are, however, we believe, laiger in all their proportions
Both t je adults and young have been frequently killed within the British Islands, and particular instances
are recorded in the works o f Mr. Selby and others. It is especially abundant in Holland, France and Ger
■ H 1 1 H A £ I B ¡ B B S I the neighbourhood o f Wees and high
woods. In its form the Night Heron ,s intermediate between the true Herons, Ardea, and the Bitterns
H J ■ | B S"P? ° Sed' PartakeS ° f the baWtS a" d manners o f both' for M i l it affects more
edy and secluded situations, it nevertheless frequently resorts during the day to high trees and woods where
it may be seen perched on the topmost branches, the truth o f which we can ourselves attest, having received
a fine adult specimen immediately after it had been shot from a high tree in the gardens o f Frogmore near
o T t t T a m “ n ° f e a r " b e i“ g a P P r ° aChed> Wh!ch e “ a b le d tb e k e e p e r to » - 7 p r iz e
a Hi BB9 H ‘he ^ Her°" re‘ireS 10 ‘be marsh ° r which never fails to afford it
plentiful supply o f food : .wheu fish cannot be obtained it feeds upon frogs, insects, and mice It breeds in
s o c ^ m u e h after the manner o f the Common Heron; and constructs a nest, composed entirely o f sticks on
he topmost branches o f Wees, or, when no suitable woods are near its accustomed haunts, among the. reeds
the eggs are four in number, o f a pale greenish blue. S '
Bill black inclining to yellow at the base ; crown o f the head, back o f the neck, upper part o f the back
nd scapulars black with green reflections; sides o f the neck, lower part o f the back, rump, wings and tail
w hTte ¿ t t f 5 h h B U1'<Ier P a r tS H 5 f r ° m ‘ b e b aCk ° f ‘ b e 'K a d s p r ln S tb r “ l 0” g . f l l
w h it e fe a th e r s , w h ic h a r e c o n c a v e b en e a th , a n d ly in g o n e o v e r th e o th e r , a p p e a r lik e a s in g le p lum e th e y 7 a l
b e e r e c t e d a t p le a su r e ; le g s an d to e s p a le y e llow is h g r e e n ; c law s b la c k , sh o r t , a n d h o o k e d ; th a t o f th e L n e r
oe pectinated on the inner side; mdes deep reddish orange; bare space round the eyes greenish blue.
The young bird during its first or nestling plumage is destitute o f the plumes at the back o f the head has
and mm Pemk b i f B S br0W“'’ B ‘he ^ W '°Wer n,a”dWe yellowisb wmm m sm Sreen i the H b~ tb I ■ 9 H | u m ***; ■ of the neck and «■»
an d r E ” " i e r S” I B E l H a ,a ^ in ed w ith d " " 7e ll° ™ h h row n ; th e b a c k
an d 11 ? ” S ' “ VertS d e e p B | t b e c eD t "= o f « * h f e a th e r s t r e a k e d w ith y e llow is h w h it e I g r e a t e r c o v e r ts
M am m m wI,h ir!anga,ar spots °f wbi,e * tbe taii b™ ' f l l i
B I B H H i -hiS B Wh“ I " k" °™ 1 *be ■ ° f B H and
each o f these s l J 6* I ■ B 9 I m0"ltlng a P1™ “^ approaching nearer to that o f the adult, and in
each ot these stages has been described as a different species.
The Plate represents an adult and a young bird o f the natural size.