676 



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



BUTORIDES, Blyth. 



Butorides, " Bltth, 1849. Type ^rdeajavanica, Hotsf." 



Ocniscus, Cabanis, Journal fiir Orn. IV, 1856, 343. Type ^rde.a vircscens, Lin. 

 Cb. — 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 scutellate 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 e.xceeding the tertials. 

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



This genus is not represented in Europe, although sg^ecies occur in Asia, Africa, Australia, 



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



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



chestnut. 



Comparative measurements of Nycficoraceae. 



BUTORIDES VIRESCENS, B o n a p . 



Green Heron; Fly-up-the-creek. 



^rdea vircscens, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 238.— Gm. I, 1788, 635.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 97 ; pi. l.vi — 

 Ord's ed. p. 102.— Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 190.— Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827 ; .Srdea, No. 36.— Aud. 

 Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 274 ; pi. 333.— Ie. Syn.264.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 105 ; pi. 367. 

 ^ Jlrdea {Botiiuriis) virescens, Bo.v. Specchio Comp. No. 180. — Ib. Syn. 307. — Nutt. II, 1834, 63. 



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



Egretta vircscens, Swainson, 2j Centon. 1838. No. 156. 



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



.Qgumia vircscens, Reichenb. Icones Avium. 



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



"^rdea clUoroptera,BoDD." 1784. Gray. 



Ardea ludoviciana, Gmelin, I, 1788, 630. 



" Mrdea lorquata, Mill. Illust. pi. Ix." Gray, 



Green Heron, Pennant, II, 447. 



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

 cliestnut. Chin and central line of throat white. Body beneath plumbeous ash. Length, 15.00 ; wing, 7.50; tarsus, 2.00 ; 

 bill above, 2.40. 



Htb. — United States generally. 



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

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

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



