DIRECTOKY TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMKRICA. 107 



f. Blue and White Herons. Florida. 



Rather small herons with lanceolate plumes on neck and 

 back and slightly filamentous ones on head. Colors, blue 

 and white, fig. 123. Gregarious at all times, but solitary in- 



Ficr. 123. 



"~^%S^sS 



dividuals are not infre- 

 quently seen in winter. 



LITTLE BLUE 



HERON, F. CAERULA. 



21.75; bill, 3.25; dark 

 slaty-blue ; head and 

 neck, maroon, more o^ 

 less tinged with bluish, y- 



fig. 123. This is ths^^-^l- 

 usual plumage, but ^^^ ^ ^ 



some specimens are Z-'^S=«-^^^==-s=l-^?^5'5^~— ^c^^^""^ 

 white with tips of pri- i, 13, f, 1. 1-8. 



maries bluish, while others occur in all stages of mixed dress 

 between the white and blue. Young always white with tips 

 of primaries bluish, without the plumes. Iris, yellow, bill, 

 black; basal half , space in front of eye, and feet, greenish. 

 Eastern U. S. from X. J., 111., and Kan. southward through 

 the Bahamas (where not common), the AV est Indies to north- 

 ern S. A. ; casually north on the Atlantic coast to Mass. and 



Fi^. 124. 



Me ; winters from the Carolinas 

 southward. An agile species, 

 springing into air very quickly 

 a.nd flying with rapid wing-beats. 



g. Green Herons. 

 Butorides. 



Small, rather short-legged 

 herons, with compact', lanceolate 

 head and back plumes. Back, 

 green or brown, fig. 124. 



1. LITTLE GREEX HER- 

 OX, B. viRESCENS. 17.50; bill, 

 2.25 ; top of head.and back, green- 



J 



I, B, g, 1. 1-6. 



