Nu. 1916. REVISION OP BUTORIDESriRESCENS—OBERHOLSER. 537 



An examination of these measurements discloses a curious rela- 

 tive difference between the sexes in different geographic areas: In 

 the northeastern United States the females average smaller than the 

 males; on the Florida mainland they are equal in size; in eastern 

 Mexico they are decidedl}'' smaller; and in western Mexico they are, 

 if the sex determinations be reliable, as is probable, somewhat larger. 



In the northern part of its range, Butorides virescens virescens is 

 only a summer resident, but in Florida, central and southern Mexico, 

 Guatemala, Honduras, and British Honduras, it remains throughout 

 the year. In central Florida it has been found breeding as early as 

 April 4. 



In the Bermuda Islands it appears only in winter and the seasons 

 of migration, and, therefore, so far as known, does not breed. It 

 does not regularly visit the West India Islands, the only record there 

 being a single, apparently accidental, individual (No. 169016, U.S. 

 N.M.) obtained by :Mr. A. B. Baker, February 16, 1899, at Fajardo, 

 Porto Rico. 



The green heron of the eastern United States was first described 

 by Linnaeus as Ardea virescens,^ from "America," with the following 

 diagnosis: "A[rdeal occipite subcristato, dorso viridi, pectore rufes- 

 cente." His account was based on the "Ardea steUaris minor" of 

 Sloane;^ the "Ardea steUaris minor" of Ray;^ and the "Ardea stel- 

 laris minima" of Catesb}^.* The descriptions of Sloane and Ray, 

 however, apply, without much doubt, exclusively to Ixobrychiis exilis, 

 but Catesby's bird is the green heron, from "Virginia and Carohna." 



Since Linnaeus' diagnosis fits only the green heron, the name 

 Ardea virescens should properly belong to that bird alone, notwith- 

 standing the compositeness of the whole account. This makes Cates- 

 by's description ^ the sole basis of the name, and since most of his 

 birds came from the coast of South Carolina, it seems best to restrict 

 the type-locaht}^ to that region, as I have done above. ^ Two other 

 names, Ardea cJdoroptura Boddaert ' and Ardea ludovidana Gme- 

 lin,* were founded on the bird from Louisiana, and, therefore, must 

 be considered synonj^ms of Butorides virescens virescens. 



Of this form 299 specimens have been examined, from the follow- 

 ing localities, breeding records being indicated by an asterisk: 



Alabama. — ^^lobile Bay;* Stevenson;* Montgomer}';* Dothan.* 



Connecticut. — St amf ord. 



District of Columbia. — Woodley Lane ;* Washington,-* Little River.* 



1 Syst. Nat., ed. 10, vol. 1, 1758, p. 144. 



2 Voyage to Islands of Madera, Barbadoes, Nieves, St. Christophers, and Jamaica, with natOTBl history 

 of those islands (=Natiira! History of Jamaica), vol. 2, 1725, p. 315. 



» Syn. Meth. Avium et Pisciimi, 1713, p. 1S9, No. 2 [lege No. 4]. 



* Nat. H:st. Carolina, Florida, and Bahama Islands, vol. 1 , 1731, p. 80, pi. SO. 



» Loc. clt. 



•Seep. 534. 



» Tabl. Planch. F.nliim., 178:5, p. 54. 



•* gyst. Nat., vol. 1, pt. 2, 1789, p. 630. 



