NIGHT-HERON.
NYCTICORAX GRISEUS {Linn.).
Ardea grisea, Linn. S. N. i. p. 239 (1766).
Ardea nycticorax, Naum. ix. p. 139, xiii. p. 2.9; Hewitson,
ii. p. 313.
Nycticorax gardeni, Macg. iv. p. 433.
Nycticorax griseus, Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 195; Dresser, vi
p. 269.
Heron bihoreau, French; Nächtliche Rohrdommel, German
; Garza de noche, Martinete, Spanish.
This very beautiful bird is a somewhat uncommon
summer visitor to our islands, and there can be little
doubt of its having bred in England occasionally, though
there is, I believe, no positive record in print of
the fact.
The Night-Heron is a very common spring migrant to
the southern and central countries of Europe, and breeds
in large colonies in Southern Spain and in the valley of
the Danube. The nest, when not built amongst reeds,
is a slender platform of sticks, much resembling that of
the Wood-Pigeon.
The subjects of the Plate were taken from life in the
Lilford aviaries.
(Nycticorax griseus.)
