534 PROCEEDiyOS of the XATIOyAL MUSEUM. VOL.43. 



minal half; tibia and soles of toes apple green; remainder of legs and 

 feet black. From this stage the bird gradually passes into the adult 

 plumage, and specimens with all sorts of combinations of adult and 

 young plumages are to be found. Some individuals in ju venal 

 plumage are smaller than adults, but the young bird becomes fully 

 growTi before assuming the adult livery. 



The diagnostic characters most useful ui separating the various 

 races of Ardea Tieroiias are size, together with the shade of color on 

 the neck and upper parts. The posterior lower surface Ls practi- 

 cally the same in all the forms. The juvenal plumage in most cases 

 reflects the color differences of the adult, though usually to a less 

 degree. All measurements are given in millimeters, and have been 

 taken as explained in the writer's paper on Butorides virescens} In 

 the averages none but tvpical specimens have been used, whenever 

 such could be obtained. Furthermore, in the tables of detailed 

 measurements every specimen used in the diagnostic averages is 

 indicated; and all other than adults are properly noted. The names 

 of colors employed are based on ^{i\ Robert Ridgway's Xomencla- 

 ture of Colors. - 



In working out the races of Ardea herodias it became necessary 

 to determine as far as possible the status of Ardea occidentalis Audu- 

 bon,^ Ardea wardi Ridgway,^ and the much discussed Ardea vmrde- 

 mannii Baird,^ all from Florida, since this problem's solution bears 

 directly on the proper name for the race of Ardea lierodias inhabiting 

 Florida. The detailed evidence concerning these birds will be 

 presented in another paper. 



ARDEA HERODIAS HERODIAS Linnffius. 



[Ardm] herodias LrsN.EUs. Syst. Nat., ed. 10. vol. 1, 1758. p. 143 (America) 

 (based on " Ardea fusca canadensis.'' Edwards [="The Ash-colour'd Heron 

 from Xorth America. " Edwards], Nat. Hist. Birds, vol. 3. 1750, p. 135, pi. 135; 

 vol. 4, 1751, p. 245 [Hudson Bay]; and, with a querj', on "Ardea cristata 

 maxima arnericana," Catesby. Nat. Hist. Carolina. Fla.. and Bahama Is., 

 vol. 2. Appendix. 1753, p. 10. pi. 10 [Virginia]). 



[Ardea] hudsonias Lixk^us, Syst. Xat., ed. 12, vol. 1, 1766, p. 238 (Hudson Bay) 

 (based on "Ardea americae se ptentrionalis" [="The Ash-colour'd Heron from 

 North America"], Edwards, Nat. Hist. Birds, vol. 3, 1750, p. 135. pi. 135 

 [Hudson Bay]; and on " Ardea freti hudsanis," Brisson, Omith., vol. 5. 1760, 

 p. 407 [Hudson Bay]). 



Cfiars. suhsp. — Size rather small (compared with other races); 

 neck and upper parts moderately dark in color. 



Description. — Adult male, Xo. 153329, U.S.X.M. ; Brewerton, Xew 

 York, April 30, 1881; Edwin M. Hasbrouck. Sides of crown, and 



1 Oberholser, Proc. U. S. Kat. Mns., vol. 42, 1912, p. 533. 



- Ridgway, Nomenclature of Colors for Naturalists, Boston, 1S86. 



» Ardea occidental^ Audubon, Birds Amer. (folio), vol. 3, No. 57, 1835, pi. 281 (Florida Keys). 



< Ardea xcardi Ridgway, Bull. Nutt. Om. Club. vol. 7. January, 1S82. p. 5 (Oyster Bay, Florida). 



» Ardea wurdemannii Baird, Rep. Expl. and Surv. R. R. Pac., vol. 9, 1858, p. 669 (southern Florida). 



