Just at this moment the cold was too much for Mr. Thompson, and he gave way to a prolonged "Achew!"
"Hark!" screamed both voices. Then one remarked:
"He's a nice man," and he spoke then almost like one of the noble family of Ardea. "Say!" he continued, addressing Mr. Thompson, "what did you come out here for?"
Mr. Thompson was not surprised at having them speak to him, and he answered, politely,
"I came into the country to escape the heat of the city."
"Just what we came from Florida for."
Mr. Thompson looked carefully at the two speakers, and could see dimly outlined against the water the dark forms of two birds. They had long legs and necks, and long sharp bills. Mr. Thompson immediately concluded from their appearance, and the reference to the family of Ardea, that they were a species of heron.
The birds noticed Mr. Thompson's look, and one of them said, kindly,
"I suppose that you want to have a good look at us, so I'll just light my lantern, and introduce myself," saying which he threw aside the long feathers on his breast, and disclosed a ball of light, very much like that which is seen on the common fire-fly. This light he obligingly turned full upon his companion, while the other performed the same office for him. In the flood of pale phosphorescent light Mr. Thompson was able to see them perfectly.
The first speaker was about three feet high, with a black head and back, and tail and wings of ashy blue; his legs and bill were long like a crane's, and his throat and breast were cream white; on the top of his head were three long white feathers. His companion was the same, with the exception of the feathers on the head. After Mr. Thompson had looked at them for a few minutes, the one with the plumes on his head said: "Now, I suppose that you would like to know our names. In Florida and the Southern States we are called Qua birds; in Virginia they call us Lamp-lighters; when we come up here to Long Island, we are Quaks; and if we go further north, into Connecticut, they add an s, and call us Squaks. But we don't like those appellations: our proper name is Ardea Nycticorax. I am Mr. Nycticorax, and this is my wife, Mrs. N."