The differences between the periods at which this bird breeds in different latitudes, correspond with those observed with respect to other species of the same tribe. Thus, eggs and young may be procured on the Florida Keys six weeks sooner than in South Carolina, although two broods are usually raised in both districts, the birds frequently removing from one place to another for the purpose. The beautiful slender plumes on the head and back generally fall off soon after incubation commences, although I have on a few occasions found the male still bearing these ornaments when the female was sitting on her second set of eggs. When the young are just able to fly I have found them good eating, but the old birds I never relished. When wounded, the Yellow-crowned Heron defends itself vigorously with its claws, the scratches inflicted by which are severe, and also strikes with the bill. If not brought to the ground, in a place where the trees are close and thickly branched, it is difficult to obtain them without a second shot, for they scamper quickly from one twig to another, and are very soon out of reach. WILSON complains that the name “Yellow-crowned” should be given to this species, and this would almost induce me to suppose that he had never seen one in the breeding season, when the white of the head is strongly tinged with yellow, which however disappears at the approach of autumn, when the bird might with all propriety be named the White-crowned Heron. The adult bird represented in the plate was shot by my friend Dr BACHMAN, a few miles from Charleston, while I was in his company; and the drawing of the plant was made by his amiable sister-in-law, MISS MARTIN. ARDEA VIOLACEA, _Linn._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 268.—_Lath._ Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 690.—_Ch. Bonaparte_, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 306. YELLOW-CROWNED HERON, ARDEA VIOLACEA, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 26, pl. 65, fig. 1. Adult. WHITE-CROWNED HERON, _Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 52. Adult Male in spring plumage. Plate CCCXXXVI. Fig. 1. Bill a little longer than the head, strong, straight, moderately compressed, tapering. Upper mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched and declinate, the ridge broad, convex, the sides bulging, the edges sharp and overlapping, the tip slender, with a distinct notch. Nasal depression wide, with a broad shallow groove extending towards the end of the mandible; nostrils basal, oblong, pervious. Lower mandible with the angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line straight and sloping upwards, the sides sloping outwards and flat, the edges sharp, obscurely serrulate, the tip slender.