554 PR0CEEDIN08 OP THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol. 43. 



on neck; some grayish in the tufts on each side of the breast, and on 

 feathers of breast and abdomen; and the not fully developed long, 

 narrow, plumaceous feathers of back and scapulars. 



This race is probably confined to the Santa Bai-bara Islands, as the 

 species is said to be resident there. Mr. G. WiJlett writes ^ that the 

 great blue heron occurs and doubtless breeds in isolated pairs on 

 most, if not all of these islands, but that he has actually seen nests on 

 only Santa Catalina and Anacapa islands. Although, of course, we 

 know certainly of the subspecific status of only tlie bird on San 

 Clemente Island, yet the published records of the great blue heron 

 from Santa Catalina, Santa Cruz, and San Nicholas islands belong 

 without much doubt under this form. 



ARDEA HERODIAS FANNINI Chapman. 



Ardea herodias fannini Chapman, -Bull. Amer. Mus. Xat. Hist., vol. 14, April 15, 

 1901, p. 87 (Skidegate, Gi-aham Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, British 

 Columbia). 



Chars, subsp. — Similar to Ardea lierodias liyperonca, but wing, 

 exposed culmen, and middle toe shorter, the tarsus still more so; tail 

 longer; upper parts and neck darker. 



Measurements. — Male:^ Wing, 472-492 (average, 480.7) mm.; tail, 

 192-195 (193.7); exposed culmen, 124.5-137 (132.8); height of bih at 

 base,27-28 (27.3) ;tarsus, 153-167.5 (160.2) ;middletoe,97-107 (100.7). 



Female:^ Wmg, 456-486 (466.3); tail, 186-194 (189); exposed cul- 

 men, 123-129.5 (126.8); height of bill at base, 24.5-26 (25.5); tarsus, 

 146-158 (153); middle toe, 88.5-96 (93.2). 



Type-locality. — Skidegate, Graham Island, Queen Charlotte Islands^ 

 British Columbia. 



Geographical distribution . — Pacific coast region of northern North 

 America, mostly in the Transition and Canadian zones: north to 

 Hope, Cook Inlet, Alaska; south to Cape Flattery, northwestern 

 Washington; and the Nisqually Flats, central western Washington. 

 Permanently resident, except perhaps in the northernmost part of its 

 range. 



This dark northwestern race is readily separable from Ardea herodias 

 herodias by its longer wing and tail, decidedly shorter tarsus, average 

 shorter culmen, much darker neck and upper parts. It is so very 

 different from Ardea herodias treganzai, by reason of its longer wing 

 and tail, shorter tarsus, middle toe, and culmen, and very much darker 

 neck and upper parts, that close comparison is unnecessary. The 

 YBTj short tarsus of this subspecies, actually as well as relatively, 

 distinguishes it from all the other forms of the species. 



1 In letter. 



2 Three specimens, from Washington and British (Columbia. 



3 Three specimens, from Alaska and British Columbia. 



