118 HISTORY OF THE 



tials and tips of primary coverts, secondaries and Inner primaries rich cinnamon 

 rufous; large area covering middle wing covert region pale ochraceous or buff; 

 remiges and primary coverts blackish slate, except the tips; bill dark olive 

 brown above, edges of upper mandible and bare frontal space yellow, lower 

 mandible pale yellow, inclining to flesh color; iris yellow; feet dull greenish 

 yellow; claws brown. Adult female: Similar to the adult male, but the green- 

 ish black replaced by brown (varying from umber drab to cinnamon, the pi- 

 leum darker and usually opaque blackish dusky); the buff stripe along the 

 outer border of scapulars much broader and more conspicuous, and the stripes 

 ou the foreneck (usually, but not always) more distinct. Otherwise exactly 

 like the male. Toung: Similar to the adult female, but the feathers of the 

 back and scapular region tipped with buff; the stripes on the foreneck also 

 (usually) more distinct." 



Stretch of 



This miniature species has fully as wide and extended a dis- 

 tribution as the American Bittern; but being more strictly a 

 nocturnal bird, inhabiting the almost inaccessible swamps and 

 boggy lands that are covered with a dense growth of canes, 

 reeds and rushes, it is seldom met with. When startled it ut- 

 ters a low "Gua," and in daylight flies but a short distance, in 

 a weak, uncertain manner, but at dusk it flaps along direct, 

 easy and strong, with neck drawn in and legs extended. It 

 subsists upon the various forms of insect life, snails, small frogs, 

 tadpoles, minnows, etc. 



Their nests are placed in rushes and coarse, tall, cane-like 

 water grass — a platform about eighteen inches from the ground, 

 or water, made of the stems and leaves woven in and around 

 the standing, growing stalks. Eggs usually four, 1.25 x. 98; 

 white, with a faint greenish-blue tinge; in form, rounded oval. 



Subfamily AKDEINJE, Herons and Egrets. 



"Outer toe equal to, or decidedly longer than, the inner. Claws usually 

 short, generally strongly curved. Three pairs of powder-dowu tracts. Rec- 

 trices lengthened, stiffish, twelve in number." 



Genus AEDEA Linn. 

 "Herons of largest size (of Stork-like nature), the adults distinguished by 

 lengthened, narrowly lanceolate, acute jugular and scapular plumes (the former 

 rather rigid, the latter overhanging the wings and rump); a tuft of broad feath- 

 ers ou each side the breast (having a different color from adjacent parts), and, 



