52 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



the same. Bill lighter-colored than in the adult, dull greenish prevailing, only the culmen dusky, 

 the lower mandible mostly pale yellowish ; legs and feet dull greenish yellow or olivaceous. 



Length, about 15.00-19.00 ; expanse, 25.00-27.00. Weight, 6i ounces (Audubon). Wing, 

 6.30-8.00 ; tail, 2.40-3.40 ; culmen, 2.00-2.55 ; depth of bill, .40-60 ; tarsus, 1.75-2.15 ; middle 

 toe, 1.65-1.95 ; bare portion of tibia, .70-.90. 



The range of individual variation in tliis species is very considerable, so far as dimensions are 

 concerned ; but the careful measurement of a large series of specimens tends to prove that the varia- 

 tion in this respect is a [lurely individual one. The largest specimen in a series of about forty is 

 one from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, ^lexico, and the smallest is from Porto Rico.^ As to colors, 

 the darkest and richest-plumaged example in the whole series is No. 25979, Rockford, Illinois, 

 in which the abdomen is so strongly washed with dark rusty as not to offer any marked contrast 

 to the maroon of the jugulum ; the colors elsewhere are (piite normal, though a little darker and 

 richer than usual. In specimens which have the feathers mure advanced in age, the lanceolate 

 plumes of the back lose the chalky or glaucous cast which distijiguishes these leathers when the 

 plumage is more recently acquired, and assume a more or less uniform Ijronzy hue. The palest- 

 colored adult specimen is No. 49534, Sacramento, California (June 10), which has the neck light 

 cinnamon-rufous, instead of rich purplish chestnut or maroon, the lower parts very pale ash-gray, 

 the remiges and primary-coverts very conspicuously tijiped with crescentic marks of pure white, 

 and the plumage generally pale and dull. Another specimen killed at the same locality was 

 similar. The peculiarities presented by these birds, however, appear to be the result of a simple 

 bleaching, caused by the excessively dry and hot climate which prevails continuously in that locality 

 for one half the year ; while the white tips to the remiges and primary-coverts are no doulit rem- 

 nants of tbe innnature plumage, since they may be seen, though generally they are smaller, in 

 specimens which otherwise have assumed the adult livery. Excepting the examples above noted, 

 no variations worthy of the least mention can be detected in the series before us. 



The Green Heron is a common and abundant species throughout tlie United States, 

 from Maine to Oregon, and in the interior extends its migrations into Canada, being 

 found, according to Mr. Mcllwraith, near Hamilton, where, however, it is quite rare. 

 It occurs near Niagara Falls, as I have its eggs from Drummondville, Ontario. Mr. 

 Boardman informs us that it is common along the more western portion of tlie coast of 

 Maine. It is found at Calais, although not common there. It is quite rare in New 

 Brunswick, but abundant throughout the United States, in favorable localities, both 

 on the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. It is resident in all the West India Islands 

 and in Central America, and is a frequent visitant of the Bermudas. It is also 

 found in the northern regions of South America. Mr. J. A. Allen met with it in 

 Western Kansas, near Fort Hays. Mr. Ridgway observed it in the vicinity of Sacra- 

 mento City, where it was quite common among the willows bordering the sloughs, and 

 around the stagnant ponds ; he did not notice it in the interior. Mr. Dresser found 

 it quite common, breeding on all the large rivers in the southwestern portion of 

 Texas. Dr. Cooper mentions it as common in California throughout the summer, 

 and probably in Oregon also. A few winter in the southern portion of the former 

 State, but ]uost of them migrate farther south, returning nortliAvard about the middle 

 of April. Tliis bird chiefly frequents the banks of such running streams as are 

 wooded, and tlie borders of ponds, and when startled, it usually flies along the stream 



1 Tlic extreme measurements are as follows : — 



Largest. Smallest. 



Wing : 57877, from Tehnantepec, 8.00 ; 60329, from Porto Rico, 6.30. 

 Tail ; " " " 3.30 ; 73069, " " " 2.40. 



Culnicn : .'">5.'")70, Ft. Macon, N. C, 2.55 ; 73069 & 60329, " " 2.08. 

 Tarsus : [ ^'''' ^'^' Creek, Kansas, 2.15, and | .. .. 



I 31887, Miuizanillo "Ray, W. Mex., 2.15 I ' 



Middle toe: 71221, City of Mexico, 1.95; 60329, L.W. 



