account of the bird -and its habits is from the pen of Mr. Swinhoe;
A p ‘The Ibis’ al

and I take the liberty of transcribing it from the pages of fhe ie wae oS 1a ve

an i «This is the sacred bird of the great Honam Temple, Canton, in the courtyard in front

— S q >

ee a few towering cotton-trees (Bombav malabaricum). On the

of the Night-Heron may be seen in all directions,

By far the most interesting

he says:
of which are some venerable banyans and

s of the former the small flat wicker nests

higher branche : : Nees ink Rare ‘ g
8 and the croaking and flapping and fighting that goes on overhead bears

some only a foot or so from others ;
some distant resemblance to the crowded dec

The granite slabs that form the pavement beneath these trees
nem clean daily might prove a fine speculation for the guano-collector.

ded them, are remarkably tame, and we could stand beneath the trees

k of an emigrant steamer on first encountering a turbid sea.
are so bedaubed with the droppings of old and

young, that permission to scrape tl
The birds, from the protection affor
and watch them without their evincing the slightest fear. .
on their nests, with their long legs bent under them, the weight of their bodies resting for the most part on
the tarsal joint—others standing on a single leg close by, with shortened neck, the beak and head

This was in April. Some might be seen sitting

occasionally moving partially round as on a pivot—others flapping to and fro, ruffling up their head-gear

and occasionally sparring together. In their various movements the dark-green black of the bead and back,
with the thin white occipital streamers flowing and quivering over it, gave a quaint though not ungainly look
to the birds. From some of the nests we heard a subdued chattering, like the cry of young ; and it was to
feed these hungry mouths that the parents were constantly leaving the trees to seek for food at all times of
the day, while others were returning with supplies. As the sun set they became still more active. While
I sat watching them from a neighbouring roof-top in the evening, numbers emerged from the inky darkness
and, one by one, settled on the stark, bare, outstanding arms of the cotton-tree. After resting for a little
time like gaunt spectres on the tree-top, off they went, one after the other, with a “* Awa,” seldom more than
two in the same direction. As darkness set in, many returned, and the noise and hubbub from the trees
rose to a fearful pitch. Until night bid them from my view, I could see the old birds going and coming,
and hear the clamour of the young. What kind of nocturnal slambers the priests enjoyed in the temple
below I never took the trouble to inquire, though I have little doubt that, from constant use, the noise of
these croakers has become quite essential to their good night’s rest.”

“T fully expected to find in Formosa the Red-backed Night-Heron of the Philippines, and was annoyed to
discover that it was still our European friend that prevailed. This bird was building abundantly in the fine
old banyans in the city of Taiwanfoo. In summer, when the young require incessant feeding, it is not
unusual to meet the Night-Heron abroad during the day searching for food; but at other seasons it is
strictly a night-bird, roosting in daylight in company, among osiers or bamboos, on the banks of inland
waters, and rambling about in the twilight and darkness of night in search of food. In the darkest nights
their loud Awa may be heard as they wing their way overhead. The Chinese call them Am-kong-cheow, or
bird of darkness, and look upon them with superstitious dread. They are thought to have some connexion
with evil spirits; and as it is the Chinese custom to propitiate the evil demons, that they may not play any
of their mad pranks on humanity, so they give protection to these their birds. In large cities superstition
is laughed down, and not so prevalent ; we therefore, in the Formosan capital, were not thought to commit
any great sin in disturbing the ill-hallowed bird; but among the country-people at Tamsuy, the villagers
for miles round would flock to us when we were out with guns, and beg us not to disturb a colony of Night-
Herons pot ed commenced nesting-operations in a fine bamboo-grove. This plantation of tall bamboos,
mixed occasionally with longans and other trees, was on a hemp-farm of four acres, which it entirely
encircled. The flock of Night-Herons, about two hundred or
this wood for the first time in March.
In April all was excitement, fighting,

more in number, showed themselves about

For a fortnight they merely made it their roosting-site for the day.
Mae, and candies and towards ce middle of the month many of the birds
y st lew days of April a large colony of Herodias garzetta came to the same trees; and

about the mi pee
re middle of the month a large flock of Buphus coromandus. At first the confusion was very

great, the flocks of the sever: isi
ant collision; but before the end of the month

al species coming j ,
all seemed amicably arranged ie y ee istl
ged, j on the same tree several nests of the three distinet
anding by to protect.
and many times on a fine evening
view it. A small wood of large tree b
their home; and her

ou would often see
Herons, the females sitting and the males st i 1
Me cic. This large mingled heronry was a most
have I taken boat and crossed over to the Heron-farm to
S stood clos al )
d close by the huts, and these a party of Ardea cinerea had made

e and there ;
élie precincis'of these: far € among the bamboos you could see a few Herodias eulophotes. ‘Thus within
an Opportunity of obsery

Herons. i

in different parts
he ‘Tamsuy river,
and a young

acres one had
I have seen many heronries
excitingly Interesting

ing the habits of no less than five species of
of China and Formosa, but none so large or so

It was a sight not easily to be forgotten.”
bird, about two-thirds

as the one on tl
The Plate represents an adult

the natural size.