304 LOUISIANA HERON. 



are also tipped with the same ; wing quills dark slate ; hreast white, 

 tinged with ochre, under which lie a number of blackish feathers ; belly 

 and vent white ; sides pale ochre ; legs greenish on the shins, hind part 

 and feet yellow ; thighs feathered to within a quarter of an inch of the 

 knees, middle claw pectinated ; toes tinged with pale green ; feet largo, 

 the span of the foot measuring two inches and three quarters. Male 

 and female nearly alike in color. The young birds are brown on the 

 crown and back. The stomach was filled with small fish ; and the 

 intestines, which were extremely slender, measured in length about four 

 feet. 



The Least Bittern is also found in Jamaica and several of the West 

 India Islands. 



Species VII. ARDEA LUDOVICIANA. 



LOUISIANA HERON. 



[Plate LXIV. Fig. 1.] 



This is a rare and delicately formed species ; occasionally found on 

 the swampy river shores of South Carolina, but more frequently along 

 the borders of the Mississippi, particularly below New Orleans. In 

 each of these places it is migratory ; and in the latter, as I have been 

 informed, builds its nest on trees, amidst the inundated woods. Its 

 manners correspond very much with those of the Blue Heron. It is 

 quick in all its motions, darting about after its prey with surprising 

 agility. Small fish, frogs, lizards, tadpoles, and various aquatic insects, 

 constitute its principal food. 



There is a bird described by Latham in his General Synopsis, vol. iii., 

 p. 88, called the Demi Egret,* which from the account there given, 

 seems to approach near to the present species. It is said to inhabit 

 Cayenne. 



Length of the Louisiana Heron from the point of the bill to the 

 extremity of the tail twenty-three inches ; the long hair-like plumage 

 of the rump and lower part of the back extends several inches farther ; 

 the bill is remarkably long, measuring full five inches, of a yellowish 

 green at the base, black towards the point, and very sharp ; iridcs 

 yellow ; chin and throat white, dotted with ferruginous and some blue ; 

 the rest of the neck is of a light vinous purple, intermixed on the lower 

 part next the breast with dark slate-colored plumage ; the whole feathers 



* See also Bufifon, vol. vii., p. 378. 



