9. nyctico•ax, Lin. Ste. including, in its different stages of growth and moulting, the maculate, Gardeni, badia, and grisea, of Gmelin. .NYcticorax Europteus, Steph. Night Heron, Night Raven, European Night Heron, Lesser Ash-colourod Heron, or Qua Bird. The young are the Spotted Heron, Gardenia,: Heron, and Chesnut Heron of Latham, Pennant, Ste. Crested head, occiput and back black-green, abdomen yellowish-white. Length one foot eight inches, and extent of wing three feet two inches.
This species has received its denomination from the disagreeable croaking noise, resembling the straining of a person in the act of vomiting, which it utters soon after sunset, when it comes abroad in quest of fish or insects. During the day, it keeps concealed among reeds, trees, or rocks, frequenting either sea-shores or the banks of rivers. It is met with both in the north and south of Europe, quitting our temperate climates in autumn, and returning in spring; but it is far from common in Great Britain. In America, it has been traced from Hudson's Bay to Louisiana. It likewise occurs in China, on the shores of the Caspian Sea, in Russia, particularly on the Don, and about .Astrachan, in summer ; but it is seldom observed in great numbers ; and it is a scarce bird in the northern parts of the world. The female carelessly constructs her nest on the ground, among bushes or rushes; and, accord ing to some authors, among rocks, or trees, and lays three or four eggs, of a dull green ./. stellaris, Lin. Ste. Botaurus stellaris, Steph. Bittern, Prov. Bittour, Bumpy • coss, Butterbunzlz, Bumble, Mire drum, &c. Testaceous, with transverse spots above, paler, with oblong brown spots beneath. The full-grown male is not quite so large as the common heron, measur ing two feet and four or five inches in length, and three feet ten inches in extent of wing. It inhabits Europe, Asia, and America, affecting the more temperate regions in winter, and migrating northwards in summer. Though not plentiful in England, especially since the considerable drainage which has been effected of the low swampy grounds, it is still found throughout the year ; but, in winter, it leaves the more mountainous, marshy grounds, resorting to low moist situations; and, if the weather be severe, it betakes itself to the sedgy banks of rivers and streams. It is a shy and solitary bird, generally re siding among the reeds and rushes of extensive marshes, continuing for whole days about the same spot, as if it sought for safety only in privacy and inaction. In the autumn, it changes its abode, always commencing its journey about sunset. During the day, it will sit among the reeds, with its head erect, by which means it sees over their tops, without being seen by the sportsman. It is with difficulty roused from its lurking-place, flies heavily, and frequently alights near the same spot. When caught, it evinces great fierceness, and strikes chiefly at the eyes of its antagonist. Though it never courts a battle, if once attacked, it defends itself with great coolness and intrepidity. When darted on by a bird of prey, it does not attempt to escape, but, with its sharp bill erected, re ceives the shock on the point, and thus compels its inva der to retreat, sometimes with a fatal wound. Hence old
buzzards never attempt to attack it ; and the common falcons always endeavour to rush on it from behind, and whilst it is on the wing. When wounded by the sports man, it often makes a determined resistance, awaiting the onset, and making such vigorous thrusts with its bill, as to wound the leg, even through the boot. Sometimes, again, especially when surprised by a dog, it turns on its back, like some of the rapacious birds, and fights with both its bill and claws. During the months of February and March, the male makes a deep booming noise, which is supposed to be his call to the females, and which is vul garly ascribed to his putting his bill into a reed, or into the mud, and blowing through it. Both sexes assist in putting the nest together, constructing it almost entirely of dried rushes, or other herbage, placed on a stump or bush, near to the water, and yet without its reach. The female lays four or five greenish-brown eggs, and sits on them for about twenty-five days. The young, when hatched, are naked and scraggy ; nor do they venture abroad till about twenty days after their extrusion, during which time the parents feed them with snails, small fishes, or frogs. In the reign of Henry VIII. the bittern was held in great esteem at the tables of the great. Its flesh, which has pretty much the flavour of hare, is far from being unpleasant ; and the London poulterers still value one of these birds at half-a-guinea.
A. ralloides, Scop. Tern. Steph. including the Cannata, Squaiotta, Castanea, Zfarsiglii, Pumila, and Erythropus, of Gmel. Etc. Squacco Heron. Crested, with the fore head and crown yellow, marked with longitudinal black spots ; upper parts of the head rufous; under parts, with the throat, rump, and tail, white.
Squaceo herons abound in Asia and Africa, frequenting the bays of the Caspian Sea, and the adjacent rivers. They are also found in Poland, Russia, Turkey, and the Gre cian archipelago, Italy, Sardinia, and, occasionally, in Ger many and Holland. An instance is said to have occurred of one having been shot in England'. 'Elie female nestle,: among reeds, and lays from four to six greenish eggs.
A. minuta, Lin. &c. The young are the A. Soloniencz. and A. Danubialis, Gruel. Little Heron, Little Bittern, Long-neck, Exc. The young are the Rufous Bittern anu Rayed Bittern of Lath. Crown, back, quills, and tail, green black ; the neck, wing-coverts, and abdomen, yel lowish red. Size about that of a thrush ; length thirteen inches nine lines ; extent of wing one foot seven inches. Native of Europe and Asia, and has been found from Siberia to Syria and Arabia. Although not very common in France, it has been frequently observed in Lorraine and Champagne, and is by no means rare along the lakes of Switzerland. It has likewise been observed in the marshes of Holland and Germany, and, on a few occasions, in Great Britain and the Orkneys. It feeds on the fry of fish, young frogs, and their spawn, insects, and worms. Dur ing the breeding season, the male utters a cry, which re sembles the distant barking of a dog. The female de posits from four to six white eggs, of the size of those of the blackbird, in a Sort of nest composed of a few dried leaves and rushes, and placed among reeds.