is," says Wilson, "a constant inhabitant of the Atlantic coast, from New York to Florida; in deep snows and severe weather, seeking the open springs of the cedar and cypress swamps, and the muddy inlets occasionally covered by the tides. On the higher inland parts of the country, beyond the mountains, they are less numerous, and one which was shot in the upper parts of New Hampshire was described to me as a great curiosity. Many of their breeding places occur in both Carolinas, chiefly in the vicinity of the sea. In the lower parts of New Jersey they have also their favorite places for building and rearing their young. These are generally in the gloomy solitudes of the tallest cedar swamps, where, if unmolested, they continue annually to breed for many years. These swamps are from half a mile to a mile in breadth, and sometimes five or six in length, and appear as if they occupied the former channel of some choked up river, stream, lake, or arm of the sea. The appearance they present to a stranger is singular-a front of tall and perfectly straight trunks, rising to the height of fifty or sixty feet, without a limb, and crowded in every direction, their tops so closely woven together as to shut out the day, spreading the gloom of a perpetual twilight below. On a nearer approach, they are found to rise out of the water, which, from the impregnation of the fallen leaves and roots of the cedars, is of the color of brandy. Amid this bottom of congregated springs the ruins of the former forest lie piled in every state of confusion. The roots, prostrate logs, and, in many places, the water, are covered with green, mantling moss, while an undergrowth of laurel, fifteen or twenty feet high, intersects every opening so completely as to render a passage through, laborious and harassing beyond description; at every step you either sink to the knees, clamber over fallen timber, squeeze yourself through between the stubborn laurels, or plunge to the middle in ponds made by the uprooting of large trees, which the green moss concealed from observation. In calm weather the silence of death reigns in these dreary regions; a few interrupted rays of light shoot across the gloom

and unless for the occasional hollow screams of the herons, and the melancholy chirping of one or two species of small birds, all is silence, solitude, and desolation. When a breeze rises, at first it sighs mournfully through the tops; but as the gale increases, the tall, mast-like cedars wave like fishing-poles, and rubbing against each other, produce a variety of singular noises, that, with the help of a little imagination, resemble shrieks, groans, growling of bears, wolves, and such like comfortable music. On the tops of the tallest of these cedars the herons construct their nests, ten or fifteen pair sometimes occupying a particular part of the swamp. The nests are large, formed of sticks and lined with smaller twigs; each occupies the top of a single tree. The eggs are generally four, larger than those of a hen, and of a light greenish-blue, without any spots. The young are produced about the middle of May, and remain on the trees until they are full as heavy as the old ones, being extremely fat, before they are able to fly. They breed but once in the season. If disturbed in their breeding place, the old birds fly occasionally over the spot, sometimes honking like a goose, sometimes uttering a coarse, hollow, grunting noise, like that of a hog, but much louder.

"The principal food of the great heron is fish, for which he watches with the most unwearied patience, and seizes them with surprising dexterity. At the edge of the river, pond, or sea-shore, he stands fixed and motionless, sometimes for hours together. But his stroke is quick as thought, and sure as fate, to the first luckless fish that approaches within his reach; these he sometimes beats to death, and always swallows head foremost, such being their uniform position in the stomach. He is also an excellent mouser, and of great service to our meadows in destroying the short-tailed or meadow-mouse, so injurious to the banks. He also feeds eagerly on grasshoppers, various winged insects, particularly dragon-flies, which he is very expert at striking, and also eats the seeds of that species of nymphæ usually called spatterdocks, so abundant along our fresh-water ponds and rivers."

The BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, A. discors-Nyctiardea Gardeni of Baird-is twenty-five inches long; general color white; has a light crest; derives its name from its nocturnal habits, being usually seen flying at night or in the evening, and utters a sonorous cry of quaw or quawk, whence it is often called the Quawk or Qua Bird. It is very similar to the NIGHT-HERON of Europe, Nycticorax Gardeni of Yarrell.

VOL. II.-37

Other American species are the AMERICAN GREAT WHITE HERON-A. leuce of De Kay, Ar dea egretta of Wilson, Audubonia occidentalis of Bonaparte-forty inches long; snowy white, frequently with a tinge of yellow; closely resembles the Great White Heron of Europe, and was formerly supposed to be of the same species; found from New Jersey south to the West Indies : the WHITE-CRESTED HERON OF SNOWY HERON, A. candidissima-Garzetta candidissima of Bonaparte-twenty-two inches long; snowy white; found on the coast of the Middle and Gulf States, and across to California: the BLUE HERON, A. cærulea-Florida cærulea of Baird-twentytwo inches long; color slate-blue; found from New Jersey south to the West Indies: the LouISIANA HERON, A. Ludoviciana-Demiegretta Ludoviciana of Baird-rare in the Middle and common in the Southern States: and the YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, A. violacea-Nyctherodius violaceus of Baird-found in the Gulf States and South America.

There are several smaller species of heron, usually called Bitterns, and ranged by some naturalists under the generic name of Botaurus, of which the following are the principal.

The COMMON BITTERN OF EUROPE, A. stellaris-Botaurus stellaris of Gould-is twenty-eight to thirty inches long; upper parts brownish-buff, irregularly marked with black and reddishbrown spots; under surface buff, with streaks of brown. It feeds at night on frogs, lizards, small birds, and fishes; during the day it usually conceals itself among flags, rushes, or other rank vegetation. It has a peculiar booming cry, which, in connection with its nocturnal habits and character, makes a gloomy impression on the mind. Goldsmith says: "Those who have walked in a summer's evening by the sedgy sides of unfrequented rivers, must remember a variety of notes from different water-fowl; the loud scream of the wild goose, the croaking of the mallard, the whining of the lapwing, and the tremulous neighing of the jack-snipe. But of all these sounds there is none so dismally hollow as the booming of the Bittern. It is impossible for words to give those who have not heard this evening call, an adequate idea of its solemnity. It is like the interrupted bellowing of a bull, but hollower and louder, and is heard at a mile's distance, as if issuing

from some formidable being that resided at the bottom of the waters. This is the bittern, whose windpipe is fitted to produce the sound for which it is remarkable, the lower part of it, dividing into the lungs, being supplied with a thin, loose membrane, that can be filled with a large body of air and exploded at pleasure. These bellowings are chiefly heard from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn, and are the usual calls during the pairing season." It is found in Southern Europe and in parts of Asia and Africa.

The LITTLE BITTERN, B. minutus, is thirteen inches long; it is a native of Southern Europe, the southwestern parts of Asia, and the greater part of Africa.

The AMERICAN BITTERN, A. minor or B. lentiginosus, is twenty-six inches long, of a rusty yellow color, mottled with brown. In its habits it resembles the European bittern, having a similar booming cry. It is familiarly known by the names of Poke, Indian Hen, Indian Pullet, Look-up, Stake-Driver, and by the French in Louisiana, Garde-soleil. It ranges throughout nearly the entire continent of North America; accidental in Europe.

Other American species are the GREEN HERON, A. virescens or Butorides virescens, which is seventeen inches long; it has a slight crest; glossy green above, chin and throat whitish, spotted with brown. It lives in marshy situations, feeding on small reptiles and fishes. It has received the vulgar names of Poke, Chalk-Line, Fly-up-the-Creek, and, to speak the truth, the questionable epithet of Schytepoke is very commonly applied to it. It is found throughout the United States.

The LEAST BITTERN, A. or Ardetta exilis, is ten inches long; chestnut above and white beneath; found throughout the United States. There are still other species on the remote western frontiers of North America.

Genus CANCROMA: Cancroma.-This includes the BOAT-BILL or CRESTED SAVACOU, C. cochlearia, which is about the size of a domestic hen. Its beak resembles a boat reversed, having a strong ridge or keel down the middle of the upper mandible, and the sides spread out and bowed. In the male, the upper part of the neck and breast are dirty white; the back and lower part of the belly rusty-reddish. The legs and feet are brown. From the head depends a long crest of feathers, falling backward. The female has the top of the head black, without the elon

gated crest; the back and the belly rusty-reddish; the wings gray; the forehead and rest of the plumage white; the bill, legs, and feet brown. This species inhabit Cayenne, Guiana, and Brazil, and chiefly frequent such parts as are near the water. Here they perch on the trees which hang over the streams, and like the kingfisher, drop down on the fish that swim beneath. They also feed on reptiles and crabs, whence the French name of Crabier or Crab-Eater. Night is the season of their activity. Their sight is acute, and their stroke surprisingly rapid. Their body is light, their wings ample, and their flight lofty.

Genus BALENICEPS: Balaniceps.-Of this we know but a single species, B. rex, an extraordinary bird, found along the borders of the White Nile, in Eastern Africa. Its height is three feet nine inches; its color is of an ashy-gray above, and light gray beneath. Its habits are little known, but it is believed to live in marshes and to feed on mollusca and reptiles.

THE CHARADRIIDE OR PLOVERS.

Of these birds there are several genera and numerous species, widely distributed throughout the world. They are in general gregarious, feeding in flocks. They are less strictly aquatic in their habits than the preceding families, some of them, indeed, frequenting the margins of rivers, lakes, and ponds, or the sea-shores, while others are found upon moors and pastures, and even in plowed fields. Most of them perform considerable migrations, visiting the high northern latitudes during the summer for the purpose of breeding. They generally lay their eggs in a mere cavity in the sand or gravel, and the young run about soon after they are hatched. Several species are well known in this country, and are among our most interesting game birds.

OYSTER-CATCHERS AND TURNSTONES.

Genus HÆMATOPUS: Hæmatopus.-This includes the Oyster-Catchers. In the EUROPEAN. OYSTER-CATCHER, H. ostralegus, the hind toe is wanting; the bill is much longer than the head,