ARDEIDE, HERONS.—GEN. 235-6, 237. 269 
purplish-chestnut, the throat-line variegated with dusky or whitish; under 
parts mostly dark brownish-ash, belly variegated with white; quills and tail 
greenish-dusky with a glaucous shade, edge of the wing white; some of the 
quills usually white-tipped ; bill greenish-black, much of the under mandible 
yellow; lores and iris yellow; legs greenish-yellow; lower neck with 
lengthened feathers in front, a bare space behind. Young with the head less 
crested, the back without long plumes, but glossy greenish, neck merely 
reddish-brown, and whole under parts white, variegated with tawny and 
dark brown. Length 16-18; wing about 7; bill 24; tarsus 2; middle toe 
and claw about the same; tibiz bare 1 or less. U.S., and a little beyond, 
abundant in summer; resident in the South. Whuts., vii, 97, pl. 61, f. 
Ls Nurr., 11, 63; Aup.; vi, 105, pl. 867; Bp., 676. . . -. VIRESCENS. 
235-6. Genus NYCTIARDEA Swainson. 
Night Heron. Qua-bird. Squawk. No peculiar feathers excepting 2-3 
very long filamentous plumes springing from the occiput, generally imbricated 
in one bundle ; bill very stont; tarsi reticulate below in front; length about 
2 feet; wing 12-14 inches; bill, tarsus and middle toe about 8. Crown, 
seapulars and interscapulars, Very dark glossy green; general plumage 
bluish-gray, more or less tinged with lilac; forehead, throat-line and most 
under parts, whitish; occipital plumes white; bill black; lores greenish ; 
eyes red; feet yellow. Young very different; lacking the plumes; grayish- 
brown, paler below, extensively speckled with white ; quills chocolate-brown, 
white-tipped. U.S., and somewhat northward, abundant; resident in the 
South, migratory elsewhere. A. nycticorax Wits., vii, 101, pl. 61, f. 
2, 3; AuD., vi, 82, pl. 363; A. discors Norn, ii, 54; WV. gardeni Bp., 
678; A. nevia Bopp., Planches Enluminées, 939. .. GRISEA var. NAVIA. 
Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Adult with the head crested, some of the 
feathers extremely long, and back with long loose feathers, some of which 
reach beyond the tail; bill short, extremely stout; tarsi mostly reticulate, 
longer than middlé toe; about as large as the last; bill 22; tarsus 33; 
middle toe 3. Grayish-plumbeous, darker on the back, where the feathers 
have black centres and pale edges, and rather paler below, the head and 
upper neck behind black, with a cheek-patch, the crown, and most of the 
crest, white, more or less tinged with tawny; bill black, eyes orange, lores 
greenish, feet black and yellow. Young speckled, as in the last, but show- 
ing-the different proportions of the bill and feet. Wuts., viii, 26, pl. 65, 
Per eNUTTs 11,02; Aup., vi, 89, pl..364; Bp., 679... . .  VIOLACEUS. 
237. Genus BOTAURUS Stephens. 
Bittern. Indian Hen. Stake-driver. Bog-bull. Plumage of the upper 
parts singularly freckled with brown of various shades, blackish, tawny and 
whitish ; neck and under parts ochrey or tawny white, each feather marked 
with a brown dark-edged stripe, the throat-line white, with brown streaks, 
a velvety black patch on each side of the neck above; crown dull brown, 
