610 



U. S. p. E, K. EXP. AUD SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



above, the forehead white. The under parts are almost entirely white, the sides of the breast and 

 body streaked with black, instead of having nearly the whole belly black, streaked with white 

 in the middle ; the sides of breast pure black. The neck is not cinnamon brownish, but ashy. 

 The upper parts are of much the same shade with Ardea herodias, No. 9472. 



A young bird, supposed to belong to the same species, but without any indication of locality, 

 diflers from the adult much, as does that of the A. herodias. 



This species is readily distinguished from Ardea cocoi by the head being white above, not black ; 

 the tibia rufous, not white ; the belly mostly white, not black ; the neck bluish ash, not white. 

 It has much the same size and proportions with the Ardea occidentalis, and, in some respects, 

 might almost be considered a cross between this species and herodias. 



In presenting to the scientific world the most magnificent species of heron known to inhabit 

 the United States, and one presumed to have been hitherto undescribed, I take much pleasure 

 in giving to it the name of Mr. Gustavus Wurdemann, of the.United States Coast Survey, as a 

 slight token of acknowledgment for what he has done towards bringing to light the novelties 

 of our southern coast. It is not too much to say that no one, for years, has been instrumental 

 in adding so many species of birds to our southern fauna as Mr. Wurdemann ; no less than 

 nine previously unrecorded species having already been collected by him in Louisiana and Florida, 

 besides very many new fishes and invertebrates. 



List of speci77iens. 



AUDUBONIA, Bo nap. 



.^udubonia, Bonap. Conspectus, IJ, 1855, 113. Type Jrdca occidentalis, Aud. 

 Cii. — Similar to .^rdea. Color white. No very long occipital featlicrs, nor mucli elongated scapulars. 



It is very questionable whether this bird can be considered as entitled to separate generic rank 

 the diflerences from Ardea consisting only in a less extent of the feathers of head and scapulars, 

 as well as in the white color. 



AUDUBONIA OCCIDENTALIS, Bonap. 



Great White Ilcron. 



^rdea occidentalis, AuD.Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835,542: V, 59G ; pi. 281.— 1b. Syn. 1839, 2C4.— 1b. Birds Amor. VI, 



1843, 110; pi. 3C8.— Bon. List, 1838.— Gundlacii, Caban. Journ. IV, 185G, 341. 

 •Sudubonia occidentalis, BoniLr. Consp. 1855, 115. 



Sp. Cii.— Bill very Btout. Middle loo about two-thirds tho tarsus. Tibia bare for nearly one-half. Feathers of occiput 

 lengthened, but no conspicuous crest, except perhaps in tlie adult. Scapulars not elongated. Color pure white. Length about 

 45 inches ; wing, 19.50; tarsus, 8.80 ; bill above, 'C.50. 



//ai.— South Florida and Cuba. 



