34 



ALTRICIAL GRALLATOEES — HERODIONES. 



Hab. Warm-temperate and tropical Nortli America, south to Guatemala ; in the United 

 States, apparently restricted to the Eastern Province, but in Mexico occurring on both coasts ; 

 north to Southern Illinois ; Jamaica ; Cuba. 



Sp. Char. Length, about 27.00-32.(10 ; expanse, about 45.00-50.00 ; weight, about 1| lbs. 

 (Audubon). Wing, 11.90-13.60; tail, 4.10-5.00; culmen, 3.30-4.00; depth of bill, .55-.'70 ; 

 tarsus, 4.90-5.75 ; middle toe, 2.50-2.85 ; bare portion of tibia, 2.60-3.75. Colors uniform or 

 unvaried. 



Colored fhase. 



Adult : Plumage in general uniform plumbeous, darker on the back, a little lighter beneath ; 

 entire head and neck rich vinaceous-cinnamou, ending abruptly below ; the penicillate tips of some 

 of the longer feathers, particularly on the occiput, lighter ; train similar to the back anteriorlj'', but 

 passing into a more brownish tint towards the end, the tips sometimes whitish. Terminal half of 

 the bill black ; basal half, including the lores and eyelids, pale flesh-color ; iris yellow or white ; 

 legs and feet ultramarine-blue, the scntellse and claws black (Audubon). 



Young : No train on the back, and no lanceolate feathers on head or neck, except sometimes 

 (in older individuals) on the occiput orjugulum. Prevailing color dull bluish-ashy, tinged here 

 and there with reddish-cinnamon, principally on the throat and jugulum. 



A specimen from Mazatlan (No. 52,832. ^ Nat. Mus.) is the most richly-colored one we have 

 seen. In this the train and back have a very decided lilac-purple tinge, the former without any 

 trace of ihv. usual brownish cast, and the tips of the longer plumes scarcely whitisli. The jugular, 

 occipital, and medial plumes of the most delicate light pinkish-vinaceous, deeper and more purplish 

 beneath the surface. No. 39,329 has the malar region on the right side mostly white ; there are 

 likewise a few white feathers over the lore on the left side, while the anterior part of the forehead 

 is distinctly pearl bluish. 



White phase. 



Adult : Plumage entirely pure white, the plumes exactlj- as in the adult of the colored phase. 

 Iris white ; color of bill, lores, and eyelids in life also similar, but legs and feet " dark olive-green, 

 the soles greenish-yellow " (Audubon). 



Younrj: Entirely pure white, and destitute of the plumes and train of the adult. 



The evidence proving the specific identity of Ardea rufa, Bodd., and A. Pcalei, Bona?., has 

 been discussed in full by Dr. Brewer in the American Sportsman (West Meriden, Conn.) for Feb. 6, 

 1875, 294. This matter being far too complicated for discussion here, the reader is referred to Dr. 

 Brewer's article, as above, or, as being perhaps more easy of access, a reprint of it by ]\Ir. Ridg- 

 way, in his remarks upon the relation between Ardea occidentalh, Aud., and A. Wiirdemamd, 

 Baird, in the Bulletin nf the U. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey of the Territories (Department of the 

 Interior, Washington, ])ublished Feb 5, 1878), Vcd. IV., No. 1, pp. 229-232. For the benefit of 

 those, however, who may not be; able to consult either ])ublication, we will state briefly that in 



