268 ARDEIDAZ, HERONS.—GEN. 228-34. 
decomposed feathers, and similar dorsal plumes, latter recurved when per- 
fect; similar, but not recurved plumes on the lower neck, which is bare 
behind; lores, eyes and toes yellow; bill and legs black, former yellow at 
base, latter yellow at the lower part behind. Plumage always entirely white. 
Size of the little blue heron. S. States; Cala. ; Middle States, in summer ; 
N. occasionally to New England; abundant. Wits., vii, 120, pl. 62, f. 4; 
Nutt., ii, 49; Avp., vi, 163, pl. 374; Bp., 665. . . . CANDIDISSIMA. 
*** Species under 3 feet long, of varied dark colors when adult, in some cases 
white when young. (Hydranassa, Florida and Butorides.) 
Louisiana Egret. Adult slaty-blue on the back and wings, mostly white 
below and along the throat-line ; crest and most of the neck reddish-purple, 
mixed below with slaty; the longer narrow feathers of the crest white ; 
lower back and rump white, but concealed by the dull purplish- brown 
feathers of the train, which whiten towards the end; bill black and yellow; 
lores yellow; legs yellowish-green, dusky in front. Young variously 
different, but never white. Length about 24 (exclusive of the long train) ; 
wing 10-11; bill 4-5; tarsus 4; middle toe and claw 3. SS. Atlantic and 
Gulf States, chiefly maritime, very rarely N. to the Middle districts. A. 
ludoviciana WILS., viii, 13, = 64,:f..1;— Norn... ai, dis Anup; vi, b> Gale 
dll -bDess0 Cosme earn . . LEUCOGASTRA var. LEUCOPRYMNA. 
Reddish Egret. Adult gray ‘she blue, rather paler below, head and neck 
lilac-brown, ends of the train yellowish; bill black on the terminal third, 
the rest flesh-colored, like the lores; iris white; legs blue, the scales of the 
tarsus blackish; length about 30; wing 14-15; bill 4; tarsus 54. Young 
usually entirely white, for a year or two; some individuals permanently so ; 
bill as in the adult ; legs greenish, with yellowish soles; in this state the bird 
A. pealei Bonar., Am. Orn. iv, 96, pl. 26, f. 1; Nurr., ii, 49; GamBet, 
Proc. Phila. Acad. 1848, 127; Bp., 661. Florida and Gulf States, strictly ; 
maritime, abundant. Ardea rufescens Aup., vi, 139, pl. 371; Demiegretta 
TUF OD. O02.) eee : ‘ : $2) | eR UE 
Little Blue Heron. Heda of ie sault with deiciedea decomposed 
feathers, those of the lower neck, and scapulars, shee ate and lanceolate ; 
no dorsal plumes; neck bare behind below; length about 24; wing 
11-12; bill 3; tarsus 34-4. Adult slaty-blue, becoming purplish on the 
head and neck; Dill and loral space blue, shading to black at the end; 
eyes yellow; legs black. Young pure white, but generally showing blue 
traces, by which it is distinguished from the snowy heron, as well as by 
the color of the bill and feet, though at first the legs are greenish-blue 
with yellowish traces. §. Atlantic and Gulf States, abundant; N. casually 
to New England in summer. WIzts., vii, 117, os 62; feds) Nuptse sen 
AUD? sVis TASS plo tioes Aa Ds. OC cee ee =i. = . CARUDEAS 
Green Heron. Adult in the breeding season Sh the crown, long soft 
occipital crest, and lengthened narrow aa of the back lustrous dark 
green, sometimes with a bronzy iridescence, and on the back often with a 
glaucous cast; wing coverts green, with conspicuous tawny edgings; neck 
