BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.

115

GENUS NYCTICORAX STEPHENS.

SUBGENUS NYCTICORAX.

NYCTICORAX NYCTICORAX NÆVIUS (Bodd.).

77. Black-crowned Night Heron. (202)

No peculiar feathers, excepting two or three very long filamentous plumes springing from the occiput, generally imbricated in one bundle; bill, very stout; tarsi, reticulate below in front. Length, about 2 feet; wing, 12-14 inches; bill, tarsus and middle toe, about 3. Crown, scapulars and interscapulars, very dark glossy green; general plumage, bluish-gray, more or less tinged with lilac; forehead, throat-line and most under parts, whitish; occipital plumes, white; bill, black; lores, greenish; eyes, red; feet, yellow. Young:Very different; lacking the plumes; grayish-brown, paler below, extensively speckled with white; quills, chocolate-brown, white-tipped.

HAB.-America, from the British possessions southward to the Falkland Islands, including part of the West Indies. Breeds in communities, returning to the same place year after year.

Nest, a large loose platform of sticks and twigs, placed well up in a tall tree. Eggs, four to six, pale greenish-blue.

In Ontario the Night Heron, or "Quawk," as it is commonly called, is not generally distributed, though stragglers are occasionally seen at different points throughout the Province. Their breeding places are by no means common, the vicinity of the sea being evidently preferred to the interior.

Along the banks of the lower St. Lawrence they breed in immense numbers, every tree in certain districts having several nests among its boughs. When viewed from a distance these trees have the appearance of being heavily coated with dirty whitewash, and the entire vegetation underneath them is killed by the accumulated droppings of the birds.

Though somewhat untidy in their surroundings at home, the birds: themselves when seen in spring plumage are very handsome, the fieryred eyes and long, flowing plumes giving them quite an interesting

appearance.

In the North-West they occur in limited numbers, but are not regularly distributed. There the nests are made in the marsh, and fixed to the reeds, eight or ten inches above the water.

Night Herons have been found throughout the greater portion of South America, and in some sections of the United States they have large heronries, where thousands breed together. They usually select a clump of tall trees, not easy of access, and have four

or five nests in each tree.

They all go wandering when the young are able to fly, but return again to their breeding place with the return of the season.

Adult: With the bare part of head extending in a point on the occiput above, on each side below the eyes, and very hairy; bill, very stout, convex, ascending, that part of the under mandible as deep as the upper opposite to it. Adult plumage, pure white, with black primaries, primary coverts and alula; bill, dusky greenish; legs, black; head, carmine, the hair-like feathers blackish. Young: With the head feathered; general plumage, gray (?), varied with brown. Length, about 50 inches; wing, 24; tail, 9; tarsus, 12; middle toe, 5; bill, 6.

HAB.-Interior of North America, from the fur countries to Florida, Texas and Mexico, and from Ohio to Colorado. Formerly on the Atlantic coast, at least casually, to New England.

Nest, on the ground among weeds or rank grass, built of fine, tough grass, firmly put together and neatly formed.

Eggs, two or three, light brownish-drab, marked with large, irregular spots of dull chocolate-brown and obscure shell-markings.

Mr. John Ewart, of the village of Yarker, in the county of Addington, has a mounted specimen of the Whooping Crane in his collection, which is the only record I have of the species in Ontario. In the fall of 1871, it was observed frequenting the borders of a small, shallow lake in the township of Camden, and for a week or ten days the local gunners were on its track. It was very shy, but finally fell before the gun of Wesley Potter on the 27th of September.

Wilson speaks of this species as an occasional visitor in the marshes at Cape May during its migration, but now it is hardly known in the East, its line of migration being along the Mississippi valley. It breeds in Manitoba, and is said to be found also in the fur countries.

When wounded, it is a dangerous bird to approach, for it drives its sharp bill with great force and precision at its antagonist.

For many years the Sandhill Crane was believed to be the young of this species, but in all stages of plumage they can now be readily identified.

GRUS MEXICANA (MÜLL.).

79. Sandhill Crane. (206)

Adult: With the bare part of head forking behind to receive a pointed extension of the occipital feathers, not reaching on the sides below the eyes, and sparsely hairy; bill, moderately stout, with nearly straight and scarcely ascending gonys, that part of the under mandible not so deep as the upper at the same place; adult plumage, plumbeous-gray, never whitening; primaries, their coverts and alula, blackish. Young:-With head feathered, and plumage varied with rusty brown. Rather smaller than the last.

HAB.-Southern half of North America; now rare near the Atlantic coast, except in Georgia and Florida.

Eggs, two, light brownish-drab, marked, except at the greater end, with blotches of dull chocolate-brown; shell, rough, with numerous warty elevations.

I am indebted to Dr. Garnier, of Lucknow, for the first record I have had of the occurrence of the Sandhill Crane in Ontario. Writ

ing, under date December 6th, 1884, he says: "About twenty-two years ago a pair of these birds spent the summer in the marshes near Murphy's Landing, County Kent. Later in the season they were seen stalking about, accompanied by two young, and finally all disappeared as the weather grew cold."

"In 1881 a pair spent the summer near Mud Creek, in the same locality, and were often seen by the people residing there. On the 1st of November, Mr. Joseph Martin, while out shooting in his canoe, suddenly came upon them at short distance. He killed one, and the other, being hard hit, dropped on a shaking bog close by. Mr. Martin brought me the dead one, and next day I went with him in search of its mate. We saw it lying quite dead on the bog, but, though my partner and I tried hard to force our way to where it was, we were compelled to give it up, to my very great regret."

In the Auk, Vol. V., page 205, is a notice by Mr. W. E. Saunders, of London, stating that he had received from Mr. M. J. Dodds, of St. Thomas, a Sandhill Crane, which was killed at Rond Eau in 1869, by Mr. John Oxford.

These are the only well authenticated instances of the occurrence

of the Sandhill Crane in Ontario that I know of, but as they are known to breed in Michigan, we cannot be surprised at their sometimes being found on the east side of the Detroit River. The species is most abundant in the Mississippi Valley, west to the Pacific coast. It is irregularly distributed, having been found breeding in suitable places outside of its ordinary range. It was seen by Dr. Bell near Norway House, on Hudson's Bay. In the North-West it is reported as tolerably common, and is often taken young and domesticated, making an interesting pet. Mr. Thompson says of it: "As a game bird, I am inclined to place the present species as first on the game list in Manitoba. An average specimen weighs about ten pounds, and the quality of the flesh is unsurpassed by any of our ordinary birds, unless it be the partridge. I should strongly advocate the protection of this bird by the game law were it not that it is so thoroughly able to take care of itself that legislation in its favor seems altogether unnecessary."

SUBORDER RALLI. RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS, ETC. FAMILY RALLIDE. RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS, ETC. SUBFAMILY RALLINE. RAILS.

GENUS RALLUS LINNÆUS.
RALLUS ELEGANS (AUD.).

80. King Rail. (208)

Above, brownish-black, variegated with olive-brown, becoming rich chestnut on the wing coverts; under parts, rich rufous or cinnamon-brown, usually paler on the middle of the belly and whitening on the throat; flanks and axillars, blackish, white-barred. Length, about 16; wing, 5-6; tail, 2-24; bill, 2; tarsus, 2; middle toe and claw, 24. Female:-Smaller.

HAB. -Fresh-water marshes of the eastern portion of the United States, from the Middle States, northern Illinois, Wisconsin and Kansas southward. Casually north to Massachusetts, Maine and Ontario.

Nest, a rude mass of reeds and grass, on marshy ground close to the water. Eggs, six to twelve, buff or cream color, speckled and blotched with reddishbrown.

This large and handsome Rail, which, until recently, was considered to be only a casual visitor to Ontario, is now known to breed plentifully in the marshes all along the River St. Clair. It has also been

VIRGINIA RAIL.

119 found at other points in Southern Ontario, but the St. Clair Flats! seem to be its favorite breeding place. The extent of the marsh and the almost stagnant water appear to suit the taste of these birds, and here they spend the summer and raise their young without being disturbed.

They are seldom seen on the wing, but become very noisy and excited before rain, keeping up an incessant cackling, which, better than anything else, gives an idea of the number that are moving about under cover of the rushes.

This seems to be the northern boundary of their habitat in Ontario, for they are not found in the North-West, nor anywhere else to the north of us. They arrive in May and leave in September.

RALLUS VIRGINIANUS (LINN.).

81. Virginia Rail. (212)

Coloration, exactly as in elegans, of which it is a perfect miniature. Length, 84-104; wing, about 4; tail, about 14; bill, 14-1; tarsus, 14-14; middle toe, 11-12.

HAB.-North America, from British Provinces south to Guatemala and

Cuba.

Nest, in a tuft of reeds or rushes, some of them bent down to assist in forming the structure, which is usually placed close to the water.

Eggs, six to nine, buff or creamy, speckled and blotched with reddishbrown and obscure lilac.

Although this cannot be said to be a numerous species, it is very generally distributed, being found in all suitable places throughout the Province. When not disturbed, it may be seen quietly wading in the shallow ponds in search of its food, which consists of aquatic insects, snails, worms, and the seeds of such grasses as grow near its haunts. If alarmed, it at once takes to the rushes, and passes with such swiftness along the covered runways which interlace the rush beds, that it will elude the pursuit of an active dog, and avoid exposing itself to the aim of the sportsman.

It is found in the North-West, but is not abundant.

In Southern Ontario it arrives early in May and leaves late in September.