. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. THE BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT [AT a beautiful creature this is! A mounted spec- imen requires, like the Snowy Owl, the greatest care and a dust tight glass case to pre- serve its beauty. Dr. Coues' account of it should be read by those who are interested in the science of ornithology. It is a common bird in the United States and British Provinces, being migratory and resident in the south. Heronries, sometimes of vast extent, to which they return year after year, are their breeding places. Each nest con- tains three or four eggs of a pale, sea- g
. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. THE BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT [AT a beautiful creature this is! A mounted spec- imen requires, like the Snowy Owl, the greatest care and a dust tight glass case to pre- serve its beauty. Dr. Coues' account of it should be read by those who are interested in the science of ornithology. It is a common bird in the United States and British Provinces, being migratory and resident in the south. Heronries, sometimes of vast extent, to which they return year after year, are their breeding places. Each nest con- tains three or four eggs of a pale, sea- green color. Observe the peculiar plumes, sometimes two, in this case three, which spring from the back of the head. These usually lie close together in one bundle, but are often blown apart by the wind in the form of streamers. This Heron derives its name from its habits, as it is usually seen flying at night, or in the early evening, when it utters a sonorous cry oi quaw or quaivk. It is often called Quawk or Qua-Bird. On the return of the Black-Crowned Night Heron in April, he promptly tales possession of his former home, which is likely to be the most solitary and deeply shaded part of a cedar swamp. Groves of swamp oak in retired and water covered places, are also sometimes chosen, and the males often select tall trees on the bank of the river to roost upon during the day. About the beginning of twilight they direct their flight toward the marshes, uttering in a hoarse and hollow tone, the sound qua. At this hour all the nurseries in the swamps are emptied of their occupants, who disperse about the marshes along the ditches and river shore in search of food. Some of these nesting places have been occupied every spring and summer for many years by nearly a hundred pair of Herons. In places where the cedars have been cut down and removed the Herons merely move to another part of the swamp, not seeming greatly dis- turbed thereby; but when attacked and plundered they have been
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
