SNOWY HERON. 49 



PEALE'S EGRET HERON. 



(Ardea Pealii, Bonap. Am. Orn. iv. p. 96. pi. 26. fig. 1.) 



Sp. Charact. — Crested; snowy white ; bill flesh colored, the point 

 and legs, black ; toes yellow beneath ; tarsus more than 5 

 inches long. — Adult, \xiih the crest and neck-fringe large, com- 

 posed of compact and pointed feathers ; the back provided with 

 long, straight, filiform plumes, extending beyond the tail. — The 

 young smaller, and destitute of these ornaments. 



This species, so nearly allied to the European Egret, was 

 discovered in East Florida, by Mr. Titian Peale, and proba- 

 bly inhabits still farther south, on the American continent. 



Tliis species is about 26 inches long. The bill 5, flesh color, for 

 nearly three inches, from the base, then black to the point. The 

 lora and naked parts of the face are of the same flesh-color, but paler. 

 Plumage as in all the Egrets, snowy white. The crest large and 

 dense. A bunch of these fine subulate feathers hangs down also 

 from the front part of the neck. The long flowing plumes of the 

 back are filiform, rather than silky, being by no means delicate, ex- 

 tending much beyond the tail, with the rays of their barbs straight 

 and rather stiff", never curled, or divaricate, as in the A. candidis- 

 sima. Tarsus 6 inches lono-. 



SNOWY HERON. 



(Ardea candidis sima, Gmel. Wilson, vii. p. 120. pi. C2. fig. 4. 

 [adult.] Phil. Museum. No. 3785.) 



Sp. Charact. — Crested; snowy white; bill, and legs black; toes 

 yellow ; tarsus less than 4 inches long. — ^didt with a large crest 

 and neck-fringe, of loose flowing feathers ; the back ornamented 

 with long, silky, recurved plumes, scarcely extending beyond the 

 tail. The ijoung, but slightly crested, destitute of the dorsal 

 train ; and, with the legs yellowish green, stained with black. 



This elegant Heron, so nearly related to the little Egret 

 of Europe, inhabits the marshes and swamps of the sea- 



