676 



U. S. p. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT 



BUTORIDES, Blyth. 



BuJorides, " Bltth, 1849. Type .Srdea jaranicn, Horsf." 



Ocniscus, Cabanis, Journal fiir Cm. IV, 1856, 343. Type ^rdeavirescens, Lin. 



Ch. — Bill acute, rather longer than the head, gently curved from the base above ; gonys slightly ascending. Legs very short ; 

 tarsi scarcely longer than the middle toe ; broadly seutellate anteriorly. Lateral toes nearly equal. Head with elongated feathers 

 above and behind ; these are well defined, lanceolate, as are the interscapulars and scapulars ; the latter not exceeding the tcrtials . 

 Neck short ; bare behind inferiorly. Tibia feathered nearly throughout. Tail of twelve feathers. 



This genus is not represented in Europe, although species occur in Asia, Africa, Australia, 



and Oceanica. But one is found in the United States ; a second species belongs to South America, 



(B. scapularis,) distinguished most easily by the neck being ash-colored, instead of dark purplish 



chestnut. 



Com2Mrative measurements of Nycticoraceae. 



BUTORIDES VIRESCENS, B o n a p . 



Green Heron; Fly-np-the-creek. 



^rdta virescens, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 176G, 238.— Gm. I, 1788, 635.— Wilson, Am. Cm. VII, 1813, 97 ; pi. l.\i 



Ohd's ed. p. 102.— Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 190.— Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827 ; Ardea, No. 36.— Ano. 

 Orn. Eiog. IV, 1838, 274 ; pi. 333.— Ib. Syn.264.— Ib. Birds Amcr. VI, 1843, 105 -, pi. 367. 



^rdea (Botuurus) virescens, Bon. Specchio Comp. No. 180. — Ib. Syn. 307. — Nutt. II, 1834, 63. 



Herodias virescens, Bon. List, 1838. — Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 340. 



Egretta virescens, Swainson, 2i Centen. 1838. No. 156. 



Butorides viresceiis, Bonap. Conspectus Av. II, 1855, 128. 



.Igamia virescens, Reichenb. Iconcs Avium. 



Ocniscus virescens, Cabanis, Journ. IV, 1856, 343. Cuba. 



" Jlrdea cliloroptera, BoDD." 1784. Gray. 



Ardea ludoviciana, Gmei.in, I, 1788, 630. 



" Ardea lorquata. Mill. Illust. pi. Ix." Gray. 



Green Heron, Pennant, II, 447. 



Sp. Ch. — Top of head and body above arc glossy green ; the coverts edged with brownish yellow. Neck dark purplish 

 chestnut. Chin and central lino of throat while. Body beneath plumbeous ash. Length, 15.00 ; wing, 7.50; tarsus, 2.00 ; 

 bill above, 2.40. 



IJ-tb. — United States generally. 



Bill stout ; culmen much compressed^ gently convex towards the tip ; gonys ascending. Tarsi 

 shorter than the middle toe, covered behind iiiid on tlio sides with small hexagonal scales. 

 Lateral toes about ecjual. Lower fourth only of tibia bare. Head with a crest of long, lanceo- 



