874 



ay STEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — HERODIONES — HERODIL 



AR'DEA. (Lat. ardca, a heron.) GuEAT Herons. Of largest size. Neck and legs very 



long, former well feathered all around. Tibiae extensively denuded below. Tarsus longer 



than middle toe and claw ; 

 outer toe longer than inner. 

 Bill slender, at least 5 times 

 as long as its depth at base, 

 but shorter than tarsus, equal 

 to or longer than middle toe 

 and claw. Colors dark and 

 varied, exceptionally pure 

 white. Back without length- 

 ened loosened plumes in breed- 

 ing season, the long scapulars 

 being lanceolate, not loosened ; 

 lower fore-neck with length- 

 ened feathers ; head crested in 

 breeding season with two long, 

 slender, flowing, occipital 

 plumes. Sexes alike ; young 

 similar, but lacking all length- 

 ened feathers. This restricted 

 genus contains the very largest 

 Herons, as the African Go- 

 liath, A. goliath; the Malay 

 Typhon, A. sumatrana ; the 

 South American Soco or Coco, 

 A. cocoi, and a few others, 

 besides those given below. 

 Though I said in the Key, 

 2d edition, 1884, p. 657, that 

 our other genera of Day 

 Herons "should be reduced 

 to subgenera of Ardea " — a 

 statement which was promptly 

 acted upon by the A. 0. U. 

 Committee — attentive recon- 

 sideration of the case induces- 

 me to make no change from 



my former presentation, which has received the unqualified support of Dr. Sharpe, the latest 



monographer of the family. 



Great Blue Heron, greatly reduced. (From Tenney, after 



Analysis of Species. (Adults in breeding plumage.) 



Whole plumage not white ; bill not entirely yellow. 



Tibiae and edge of wing white ; occiput and plumes black ; neck ashy. Europe einerea 



Tibiae and edge of wing rufous. 



Under parts dark, with white streaks. Occiput and plumes black Bill 6 00 or less; tarsus 8.00 or less. 



N Am .... herodias 



Under parts wliite, with black streaks. Bill 0.00 or more ; tarsus 8 or more. 



Occiput and plumes black. Florida uuirdi 



Occiput and plumes white. Florida wuerdemanni 



Whole plumage pure white , bill entirely yellow. Bill GOO or more ; tarsus 8.00 or more. Florida and Cuba 



occidenialis: 



