NYCTICORAX GRISEUS.
Night-Heron.

Ardea nycticorax, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 235.

grisea, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 239.

Nycticorax europeus, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xi. pt. ii. p- 609, pl. 47.
———— nycticorax, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 560.

~~ Garden, Bonap. Geog. and Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Am., p. 48.
—_—_— ardeola, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. iv. p. 384.

griseus, G. R. Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. iii. p. 558, Nycticorax, sp. 1.
Nyctiardea europea, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 355.

Ardea (Scoteus) nycticorax, Keys. et Blas. Wirbelth. Eur., p. 80.

Nyctirodius nycticorax, Macgill. Man. of Nat. Hist., Orn., vol. ii. p. 127.

 

 

 

Axour six or seven species of the genus Nycticoray are now known, one or other of which inhabits nearly
every portion of the globe. Australia is frequented by Mycticoraw caledonicus, Manilla by N. manillensis,
Borneo by XN. crassirostris, Chili and the Malouine Islands by XV. obscurus, the West Indies and South
America by XN. violacea, and North America by the last-named species and N. Gardeni; while the bird
here figured is distributed over Europe, the greater part of Africa, India, and China. In England the
Nycticoraxr griseus is only an accidental visitor, and does not breed with us, for the simple reason that
every individual which makes its appearance is ruthlessly shot before it has time to await the coming of

 

a mate. On the continent of Europe the bird is more common, and, being less persecuted, breeds
. and rears its young in many of the southern countries. Although I have stated that its appearance
4 in England is accidental, repeated instances of its occurrence have come under my notice ever since

 

I was a boy, when a specimen which had been killed in Windsor Great Park was sent to me in the
flesh. Lord Lilford has seen two or three in a season on his estate at Oundle, in Northamptonshire ; and
in May 1858 the late Earl of Craven presented me with a splendid male, which his keeper had shot on
the 6th of that month at his seat, Coombe Abbey, in Warwickshire. In Ireland it is of very rare
occurrence; and up to the year 1852 very few had been met with in Scotland.

In the daytime, the Night-Heron is a heavy, sleepy bird, and is usually seen perched on a branch of a
tree skirting a forest, whence it sallies forth on the approach of evening, and passes the night in the
marsh, by the river-side, or on the border of a large pond, in search of frogs, newts, and other aquatic
animals, not refusing insects and mollusks on the one hand or the fry of fishes and shrew-mice on
the other. The sexes are alike in colour and in the decoration of the nape, whence spring two or three
lengthened white plumes which fall gracefully over the back. The young, on the contrary, are reddish
brown, spotted with white, a style of plumage which constantly varies until the bearer attains the adult
livery—a period of at least two years. It is this diversity in the colouring of the young and old Night-
Herons which has so greatly increased the synonymy of the species—a circumstance much to be regretted,

 

since its earlier name of grisea is very inappropriate; but the modern law of nomenclature, which requires

 

the adoption of the earliest specific appellation, does not admit of a more fitting term being employed.

Both Lord Lilford and Mr. Howard Saunders inform me that the Night-Heron is numerous in spring and
summer in the wooded marshes on the Guadalquivir, below Seville, and that it breeds there in colonies ; in
one thicket Mr. Saunders saw nests not more than from five to fifteen feet from the ground.

Bailly, speaking of the bird in Savoy, says :—‘ It is rarely met with in this country ; the few that do visit
us arrive in April and May, and the bird is seldom to be seen at any other season. It breeds in several of
the southern regions of France, where it builds its nests in marshes among reeds and rushes, upon a stump

 

or willow standing in the water. ‘The eggs are three or four in number, of a pale greenish blue. Like the
Herons and Bitterns, these birds arrive at night, at the end of the evening twilight, and very early in the
morning, generally one at a time, but sometimes in couples (male and female). ‘Then occasionally may be
heard their lugubrious croaking, which, being uttered at night, has obtained for the bird the name of Nycti-
corax (or Night-Raven), given to it by Linnzus. During the daytime it conceals itself in the reeds or
shrubs, or perches on the tallest trees, remaining the greater part of the day without moving. After sunset
it leaves its retreat, and seeks for food or resumes its journey. It is neither wild nor wary, and is not easily
frightened, but shrinks, as it were, into itself and remains in a state of immobility until the intruder has
passed. It may be attracted by imitating its cry, which is very similar to that of the Common Oroey moak,
moak. like the Bittern, it is dangerous when wounded, as it defends itself vigorously.”