NATURAL SCIENCES OP PHILADELPHrA. 63 



iris whitish, orbits and base of the bill yellowish, bill light blue, legs drill 

 yellowish, bill light blue, legs dull greeu. 



109. Garzetta candidissima. I find the Suowy Heron of as frequent oc- 

 currence as the Red-Necked and Blue Gaulin. Color snowy white, with 

 occipital and dorsal plumes loosely fibred and much lengthened. Iris yellow- 

 ish, bill black, with the base and lower portion of the lower mandible and 

 space round the eye yellow; legs black, feet yellow; length 26 inches, ex- 

 panse 371, flexure 10^, leg 4, bill 3, middle toe 3. 



10S. Garzetta nivea. Mr. Gosse's Common Gaulin has been supposed to 

 be the immature " Florida coerulea," but I think, on careful examination and 

 comparison, it is quite distinct, the color is always pure white, without 

 any blue feathers about the body or wings, or any distinct crest. The tips of 

 the first six wing quills only are edged on both webs with greyish black. Iris 

 pale yellow ; orbits, cheeks and legs bluish green ; bill bluish black, with 

 the base and larger portion of the lower mandible yellow. Length 24 inches, 

 expanse 39, flexure 10|, leg 4, bill 3, tail 4. 



111. Demiegretta ludoviciana. The Red-necked Egret, or Gaulin, is one 

 of the most common. The general color of the adult above is slatey blue, 

 the feathers tipped with reddish ; chin and a stripe down the throat and 

 other under parts tawney white ; breast and neck red, shaded into purplish. 

 Iris yellowish white; space round the eye fulvous; bill brownish black, 

 lower mandible clayish yellow beneath; legs yellowish green. Length 25 \ 

 inches, expanse 37, flexure 10}, bill and leg 4 each. The white occipital and 

 colored dorsal plumes straight, fastigiate, the latter generally longer than 

 the tail. The immature bird has the upper plumage reddish, mixed with 

 blue. 



Demiegretta rufa. The Reddish Egret or Gaulin is scarce, as I have only 

 seen two specimens ; it appears to be only an occasional visitor. 



Adult. General color greyish blue, paler beneath; head, neck and throat 

 reddish chestnut. Dorsal plumes with yellowish tips, straight, fastigiate, 

 and longer than the tail. Iris greyish white, space round the eye and bill 

 dull flesh-color; the terminal half of the bill black, legs and feet blue, with 

 blackish scales ; claws blackish. Length 30 inches, expanse 43, flexure 12f , 

 leg 5^, bill 3}. 



116. Herodias egretta. The White Egret or Heron is the most common 

 of the larger species. The dimensions are, length 38 inches, expanse 55, or 

 more, flexure 16, tail 5, bill more than 5, and leg nearly 6 inches. Color 

 pure white ; no occipital crest. Dorsal plumes with stiffened shafts, longer 

 than the tail and pendant. Iris yellow ; bill yellowish to the point, dusky 

 above, legs and feet black. 



163. Ardea occidentalis. The Great White Heron is rare in the island ; 

 it is readily distinguished from ^he preceding by the larger size, the length- 

 ened occipital feathers, and an absence of the dorsal plumes and some other 

 peculiarities. The color is also pure white. Iris yellow, orbits yellowish 

 green, bill yellow, greenish at the base ; legs yellow, with olive tinge in front, 

 claws light brownish. Length 45 inches, expanse 68, or more, flexure nearly 

 20, leg nearly 9 inches, bill 5. 



115. Ardea herodias. The Great Blue Heron is more abundant in some 

 years than in others. The prevailing color is ashy blue, some feathers tinged 

 reddish ; crown feathers and scapulars elongated ; chin and under tail coverts 

 white ; edge of wing and a patch on shoulder rufous and white ; neck ashy 

 cinnamon brown ; color of throat white, streaked with black and reddish 

 brown ; plumes of the breast ashy and white ; bally streaked black and 

 1864.] 



