FAM. XLV. UERONS, EGBETS, ETC. 263 



ORDER XI. HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC. 

 (HERODIONESj 



An order of large, long-necked, long-legged, long-billed, short- 

 tailed birds, with portions of the heads and sometimes of the 

 necks bare of feathers, but covered more or less with hairs. 



FAMILY XLV. HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS, ETC. (ARDEII)^.) 



A large family (75 species) of large, long-billed, long-necked, 

 long-legged birds, with the head fully feathered, except a space 

 between the eyes and bill (lores). TLis is the one family of 

 the order (Herodiones) well represented in all portions of our 

 region. These birds are abundant along the shores of rivei's, 

 lakes, salt-water marshes, and bays. In flying, the head is 

 brought back close to the breast by the folding of the neck. 

 Nearly all other birds belonging to this order fly with the neck 

 stretched forward to its full length, and the legs extended back- 

 ward. The name " squawk " is applied popularly to a number 

 of the species of herons, because of the peculiar cry which 

 is characteristic of the family. Bitterns diifer from the 

 true herons in being more solitary in their habits, occupying 

 more exclusively grassy meadows and marshes, and in their 

 vocal performances, which have been appropriately called 

 "booming" and "stake driving." 



Key to the Species 



* Outer toe shorter than the inner one ; hind nail fully half as long as the 



toe. 



— Wing, 10-13 long 1. American Bittern. 



— Wing, 4-6 long 2, and .3. Least Bitterns. 



* Outer toe as long or longer than the inner one ; hind nail less than half 



as long as the toe. (A.) 

 A. Bill slender, fully four times as long as it is 



high at base.i (C.) 



A. Bill stouter, about three times as long as it 



is high at base.^ (B.) 



B. Bill less than a half inch shorter than the tarsus ; top and bottom of 



the bill but slightly convex 13. Black-crowned Night Heron. 



