222 NEW-YORK FAUNA — BIRDS. 



THE BLUE HERON. 



Ardea cerulea. 



Ardea cerulea, LiNNiEus. Blue Crane. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol.7, p. 117, pi. 62, fig. 3 (adult). 



A. id. BoNArARTE, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 306. 



Egretta id. Bonaparte, Geog. and Comp. List, p. 47. 



A. cerulea. Ndttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 58. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 148, pi. 372. 



A. id. Gieaud, Birds of Long island, p. 282. 



Characteristics. Crested. Slate-blue. Head and neck brownish blue: feathers of the 

 back and neck slender and elongated. Young, whitish varied with 

 greyish blue. Length, 24 "0. 



Description. Bill robust, slightly decurved above, 4'0 long. Lower half of the tibia 

 bare : claw of the hind toe largest. The feathers on the back long, and extending 4*0 

 beyond the tail. Feathers of the hind head long and slender, increasing in length behind. 

 Tail short and even. 



Color. Bill bluish at the base, becoming black towards the tip. Legs and toes black. 

 General color of the plumage blue. Head and neck purplish blue ; the anterior portion of 

 the neck with a longitudinal bluish line. 



Length, 20-0-25-0. 



This is a southern species, inhabiting the Antilles, and extending to the equator. It is a 

 rare visiter to our coast, but according to Mr. Linsley, has been observed in Connecticut. 

 It frequents marshes, feeding on fishes. Eggs three or four, bluish green. It breeds from 

 New-Jersey southwardly, and is a resident from Florida towards the tropics. 



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