GRALLATORES : ARDEID^E. 245 



the inner toe connected by a basal web to the outer ; the 

 claws acute, and the middle one pectinated on its inner 

 edge. It is represented all over the globe. 



The Genus Demigretta has a full occipital crest of elon- 

 gated feathers, and the back has free plumes longer than 

 the tail. 



Peak's Egret, D. Pealii, Baird, of South Florida, is 

 thirty inches long, and the wing thirteen inches. The 

 color is pure white, the terminal half of the bill black. 



Reddish Egret, D. rufa, Baird, of the Gulf States, is 

 thirty inches long, and the wing twelve and a half inches. 



Louisiana Heron, D. ludoviciana, Baird, of the South- 

 ern States, is twenty-five inches long, and the wing ten 

 and a half inches ; slate-blue above ; rump, under parts, 

 and the longest occipital feathers, white. 



The Genus Garzetta has a full occipital crest ; middle 

 of the back with long plumes reaching to the tail, and 

 recurved at the tips. 



The Snowy Heron, G. candidissima, Bonap., of the coast 

 of the Middle and Gulf States, and across to California, 

 is twenty-four inches long, and the wing over ten inches. 



The Genus ffcrodias has no crest, the back with plumes 

 longer than the tail, and curving gently downwards. 



The White Heron, H. egretta, Gray, of the Southern 

 States, and accidental in New England, is thirty-nine 

 inches long, and the wing fifteen and a half inches. The 

 California White Heron is probably a larger variety. 



The Genus Ardca has the bill very thick, occiput with 

 a few elongated feathers, and no dorsal plumes. 



The Great Blue Heron or Crane, A. hcrodias, Linn., of 

 North America and the West Indies, is forty-two inches 

 long, the wing eighteen and a half inches, and the bill 

 five and a half inches. This bird frequents ponds and 

 creeks, where it may be seen standing upon a rock or 

 stump for hours, watching for fish, upon which it feeds. 



