272 SCARLET IBIS. 



When wounded, the Yeliow-erowned Night Heron does not attempt to take to tin* 

 water but endeavor?; to hide in the thiekets. Tliey defend themselves Ijravely, liutdo not 

 make an V outer V, in faet they are at all times nuieh moi'e silent than are the eonnnoii 

 Nio-ht Heron, seldom crying, even at nigiit. A single ])air will ocea,siona,lly breed by 

 themselves, but usuallv they will nest in small communities. Thus I ibnnd (|u:te a^ 

 heronrv, containing al)ont ten nests, on the west coast of Andros, May 13, 181)4, and the 

 e'j-os were in a, sliuhtl\- ad\anced state of incubation. 



I found the Yellow-crowned Night Heron common on the islands of Cayman Bi-ac 

 and Little Ca\inan in Marcli and Aprd, ISS8, and on the latter island several used to visit 

 the clearing al)out tlie liouse in which 1 lived, mid, evidently attracted V)v the cries of a 

 species of tree frog that frecjnented the Iniildings, used to alight on the I'oof ofthe house 

 and I'un about the shingles. 



Notes on the Louisiana 1Iei;on. In my iloscription of this .species I say that the iris and naked space 

 about tlie eye and the base of bill and feet ai-e greenish. This is true for a greater part of tiie year, but for a few 

 weeks, during the breeding season, there is consiiterable change in the colors of these parts. The last of 

 February a change of color begins. The first to change is the iris, this gradually becomes first yellow, then 

 rosv red. The base of the bill ne.xt becomes bluish and this color extends both ways, deepening in shade as it 

 increases, until it covers three fifths I if the 1)111 and occupies all of tlie naked space about the eye, when it 

 lias become brilliant cobalt blue. This change is aecomplished in Florida by the first of April. The legs 

 and feet also change to a plumbeous color. When I published my account of the Louisiana Heron, in the 

 first edition, I do not think that this change had been observed by any one. The first to notice the bright 

 colors about the bill and of the eye was Mr. Cory, who found birds thus marked on the Bahamas, and, 

 misled by publisheil accounts of the colors of these parts in the Louisiana Heron, redescribed specimens 

 characterized by this bright array of color as Anlea cyanirostris. 



Notes ox Habits. I found the Louisiana Heron (juite abundant and breeding on the 

 Bahamas, April -SO, 1884, nesting in small I'ookeries on the little keys that lie off the 

 south shore of Andros. I also found them common at Inagua in February, 1888, and 

 abundant on ('ayman Brae in April ofthe same year. 



IBIS RUBER. 

 Scarlet Ibis. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii Size and form about that of the White Ibis, but scarlet throughout, with tips of several 

 primaries black. Naked parts of head, bill and legs purplish red. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



This species is tropical, but three were seen at a distance by Audubon in Louisiana. Jnly, 1S21. Coues 

 records examining fragments of a specimen taken on the Rio Grande, June, 1804, and Brewster speaks of a 

 specimen in the Museum of Charleston College, South Carolina, labelled as being taken in Florida. (See 

 notes also in Appendix). 



OKDER XIII. LIMICOLAE. SHOIIE BIRDS 



Lvgs, long and naked to above the tarsal joint. Posterior toe, when present, elevated 

 above the level of the anterior. Marginal indentations, usuallij four. Terminal expansion 

 offurcula, without central projection, and it does not approximate closcl/j to the top of keel. 



