ARDEID^ — AUDEIN^ : HEBONS. 



659 



tigiate feathers drooping far beyoiul tlio tail ; neck closely feathered. Plumage entirely white 

 at all seasons. Bill, lores, and eyes, yellow; legs and feet black. Length 36.00-42.00 (not in- 

 cluding the dorsal train, which is a foot or more longer) ; extent 55.00 ; wing 16.00-17.00 ; tail 

 5.50-6.50; bill 4.50-5.00; tarsus about 6.00 ; tibiae bare 3.50. 9 averaging smaller than $. 

 U. S. southerly, and much of W. I., C. and S. Am. ; straggling northward to Nova Scotia, 



Fig. 458. — European Great White Egret, Herodias alba, J nat. size. (From Brehm.) 



Canada, Minnesota, etc. ; resident in the south. Breeds like otlier herons ; eggs 3-4, 

 2.20-1.55. 

 259. GARZET'TA. (Ital. name of a heron. Fig. 459.) Small Egret Herons. Form of the 

 preceding, but size small ; length about 2 feet. Color white ; an occipital crest, and short 

 recurved train of stiff-shafted loose-webbed feathers in the breeding season ; lower neck-feathers 

 lengthened, depending. (See fig. of the European species, G. nivea.) 



