GRALL.E GRUID^E ARDEA. 223 



THE LOUISIANA HERON. 

 Ardea ludoviciana.* 



Ardea ludoviciana. Wilson, Am. Om. Vol.8, p. 13, pi. 64, fig. 1. A. Imcogaster, Ord's reprint. 



A. id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 305 ; Obs. on Wilson's Orn. 



A. id. NriTTALL, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 51. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 156, pi. 372. 



A. id. Giraud, Birds of Long Island, p. 281. 



Characteristics. Crested. Slate-blue : back, rump and beneath white : breast and back 

 with long purplish feathers ; throat white. Young, greyish mixed with 

 bluish. Length, 27-0. 



Description. Bill strait, compressed, tapering, 3*5 long. Nostrils basal, linear. Tibia 

 bare for half its length- Tarsus compressed, as long or longer than the bill : hind toe shortest. 

 Tail short, small, slightly rounded. Feathers of the head elongated, as are those of the 

 back part of the neck, but not to so great a degree. A large mass of elongated feathers on 

 the breast or lower part of the neck. Feathers of the fore part of the back thread-like, elon- 

 gated, and extending far beyond the tail. 



Color. Bill yellow at base, blackish at the tips : bare space before and around the eye 

 yellow. Feet light yellowish green. General color above blue. Crest blue ; the long fea- 

 thers on the back of the head white. The dorsal feathers blue, but becoming dull yellowish 

 white towards the tips. Throat white : a broad longitudinal band of bluish, dark reddish 

 brown and white, occupies the whole fore part of the neck, and is lost in the white of all the 

 under parts. 



Length, 26-0-27-0. 



This is so rare a species, that it may be considered as an accidental visiter. Mr. Giraud 

 obtained one from Suffolk county, about six years since, and I have heard of none other 

 having been obtained since that period. It is even rare in New-Jersey. It is a southern 

 species, extending to the tropics. Breeds in Florida and Texas, where it is a constant 

 resident. 



