THE GREAT WHITE EGRET. 597 



Closely related to the above is the Yellow-crowned Night 

 Heron {Nyctiardea violacea). Some 22 inches long and 

 about 41 in extent, it is a little smaller than the Common 

 Night Heron, and, excepting the plumage, its structure 

 is very similar. The back and head are furnished with long 

 and elegant lanceolate plumes. The general color is a pale, 

 ashy-blue, the feathers of the back and wings being dusky, 

 edged with pale or light-ash; upper part of the neck and 

 the head, blue-black; the white crown, including the long 

 upper plumes of the crest, is tinged with yellow in the 

 breeding season; there is a white patch on the cheek; eyes, 

 yellow; bill, black; feet and legs, black and yellow. The 

 young are greenish-brown above, with light spots and 

 streaks, and grayish-white, streaked with brown, below. 



This southern species, regularly reaching the Carolinas, 

 and wintering in Southern Florida, like others of its kind, 

 breeds in community, often placing its nest in very tall trees. 



Grandest of all the Herons, and prince among Waders, 

 is the Great White Heron {Ardea occidentalls) of Florida Keys. 

 Some 47.50 long and 72.50 in extent, it is noticeably larger 

 than even the Great Blue Heron. Of the purest white 

 throughout, the feathers of the crown, neck and breast are 

 long and loosely lanceolate; bill, iris and legs, yellow; feet, 

 dusky-green; exceedingly shy and wary, and remote from 

 the habitations of man; slow and stately in all its move- 

 ments, it impresses one with an idea of purity, elegance and 

 dignity. The nest is similar to that of the Great Blue 

 Heron, the light bluish-green eggs being some 2.42x1.82. 



THE GREAT WHITE EGRET. 



Among the most conspicuous and beautiful of the birds 

 of this class are the Egrets, of which we have several rep- 

 resentatives in our more southern latitudes. Except in the 



