92 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL, I50 



La Jagua. Country people in some sections have a superstition re- 

 garding these and some related herons as they say that no one has 

 seen their nests. 



While these herons are most abundant on the coastal plain they 

 penetrate into the foothills along the larger streams, even where river 

 currents are fairly rapid. In the Azuero Peninsula in dry season 

 scattered birds range inland along the smallest quebradas, though 

 drought may reduce the water to occasional pools along otherwise 

 dry creek beds, as here small fish are secured with ease. Groups of 

 15 or 20 sometimes spread along sandy beaches to feed on the abun- 

 dant mole crabs in the wash of the surf. As each wave recedes the 

 herons run or fly following the water, to snatch at the active crusta- 

 ceans. When the wash returns the birds come back slowly if the 

 water does not touch their bodies, but fly when the waves rise sud- 

 denly. In such activities they suggest huge sandpipers. 



It is usual for small groups to gather at night to roost together in 

 some isolated clump of mangroves, or on a small tree or snag stand- 

 ing in water. Such sleeping places may be occupied regularly, and 

 on larger bodies of water flights to them may be noted each evening. 



The trematodes Apharyngostrigea ibis and Lypersomum sinuosum, 

 species described originally from the cattle egret Bubulcus ibis ibis, 

 are reported by Caballero and Hidalgo (Rev. Soc. Mex. Hist. Nat., 

 vol. 16, 1955, pp. 29-34) from the intestine of a little blue heron shot 

 at Panama Viejo, February 21, 1954. 



HYDRANASSA TRICOLOR RUFICOLLIS (Gosse): Tricolored Heron; 

 Garza Pechiblanca 



Egretta ruficollis Gosse, Birds Jamaica, 1847, p. 338. (Burnt Savanna River, 

 Jamaica.) 



A very slender heron, with the lower breast and abdomen white in 

 contrast with darker colors elsewhere. 



Description. — Length 560 to 660 mm., with slender neck and 

 body, and long, thin bill. Adult, dark slate gray above and on sides 

 of the neck ; lower back and rump white; white below, with foreneck 

 and upper breast streaked with chestnut brown and blackish slate. 



Immature, gray on sides of breast and upper surface, with the 

 neck, wing coverts, and back reddish brown. 



Measurements — Males (8 from Florida, Cuba, Jamaica and His- 

 paniola), wing 248-259 (253), tail 81.8-91.8 (87.0), culmen from 

 base 93.8-103.8 (97.5), tarsus 92.0-103.2 (99.2) mm. 



Females (7 from Florida, Cuba and Panama), wing 237-249 (241), 



