2.'>8 AVKS: IIKICODIDNKS. — XXXVI. 



variejiatcd everywhere ; foroneck striped with huffy ; a dark patch 

 on each side of "neck. L. 23 to 28. W. 12. T. 4i' B. 3. N. Am. 



373b. ARDETTA Cray. 



729. A. exilis ((Jimliii). Lkast Hittkrn. (? chiefly glossy 

 greenish hlack above, lirowni.sli yellow hdow, neck, shoulders and 

 win^s with (hestnut; a huiTy area on wing coverts ; 9 v,'ith brown 

 instead of black. L. 14. W. 5. T. If. B. 1 J. N. Am., in reedy 

 swamps. (Lat., slender). 



374. ARDEA Linna>iis. (Lat. heron.) 

 fl. Bill sliorter than tarsus. 

 b. Lt'iij^fh more tlian 35 (in adult); tarsus not twice middle toe without 

 claw. 

 c. Color chiefly bluish; head crested in breeding season; dorsal plumes 

 short. (Anicu.) 



7,30. A. herodias L. CiiiKAT Butk IlKitox. Grayish blue, 

 marked with black and white ; crown black with white centre ; 

 forehead white ; lower j)arts dusky, striped with white ; tibia and 

 edge of wing cinnamon brown. L. 42 to ij(). W. 1 'J. B. C^. Ts. 

 7. T. 7. 9 f^niallcr. N. .\ni., giiicral!}' ((HiiiMon. (f^coStdr, 

 heron.) 



cc. Color white; no crest; back in breeding season with long plumes. 

 (Ilermiins Boie.) 



731. A. egretta Gmelin. Gueat White Eguet. L. 40. 

 W. 17. B. 5. Ts. 6. Amer., chiefly S. (Fr., aif/rctle, a top- 

 knot.) 

 bb. Length 20 to 32. 



d. Tarsus not nearly twice middle toe without claw. 



c. Color pure while at all times; plinnes of breeding season very 

 long, recurved, with loose webs. (Garzetta Kaup.) 

 ""2. A. candidissima Gmelin. Snowy Eoket. White 

 "C'ltANE." I.. 24. AV. 12. B. 3. T. 4. Tropical America, N. 

 to X. Y., abundant. (Lat., very white.) 



ee. Color slaty blue, the liead and neck maroon; the young white, 

 and sometimes the adult nearl}' or quite white ; plumes slender, 

 with compact webs. (Flurida Baird.) 



'.33. A. caerulea L. Little Bme IIihon. L. 24. W. 12. 

 T. 4. B. 3. Ts. 4. E. Am., N. to 111., common. 



dd. Tarsus twice as long as middle toe without claw. (Dichromanassa 

 Kidgwny.) 

 734. A. rufescena fJmelin. REnnisii Ecuet. Slate color; 

 head and neck cinnamon; young grayish. L. 30. W. 13. B. 4. 

 Ts. 5. Southern. N. to 111. (Lat., reddish.) 

 aa. Bill not shorter than tarsus; L. less than 30. 

 y. Scapular plumes in cf straight, hair-like, reaching beyond tail; wing 

 more than 8. {Ihjdrunassa Baird.) 



