7. AR/DEA. (Lat. ardea, a 
ARDEIDA —ARDEINA: HERONS. 
Always white, Adult with decomposed recurved feathers onback . , 
Ashy-blue, white below. Billlongerthantarsus . ....... 
Length 30, not 36 inches. Blue or white. Tarsus twice as long as middle toe. Bill shorter than 
tarsus : : : . . . . Diehromanassa 
Length 36 or more. Entirely white; no crest ; long decomposed feathers on back 
Length 42 or more; of dark varied colors, or white ; crested, without dorsal plumes 
60. Subfamily ARDEINA: True Herons. 
Tail-feathers 12 (in all N. 
Am. genera), broad and stiff- 
ish. Powder-down tracts 3 
pairs. Tibie naked below. 
Outer toe not shorter than in- 
ner. Claws moderate, curved. 
(Embracing most of the spe- 
cies of the family, and all our 
species excepting the  Bit- 
terns. ) 
heron.) GREAT HERons. Of 
largest size. Neck and legs 
very long, former well feath- 
ered all around. Tibize exten- 
sively denuded below. Tarsus 
longer than middle toe and 
claw. Outer lateral toe longer 
than inner. Bill shorter than 
tarsus, equal to or longer than 
middle toe and claw. Colors 
dark and varied, exceptionally 
white; back without length- 
ened loosened plumes; scapu- 
lars lanceolate, lengthened, but 
not loosened; lower fore-neck 
with lengthened feathers; head 
crested, in breeding season with 
“two long, slender, flowing, oc- 
. Hydranassa 
cipital plumes. Sexes alike ; 
young similar, but lacking all 
lengthened feathers. Dichro- 
matic. (Genera 258-263 should 
be reduced to subgenera of 
Fic. 457. — Great Blue Heron, greatly reduced. (From Tenney, after 
Ardea.) Audubon. “ 
Analysis of Species. 
Tibiz and edge of wing white; occiput and plumes black. (Europe.) ..... .. . 
Tibiz and edge of wing rufous; or whole plumage white. 
Occiput and plumes black; whole plumage varied. Bill 6 or less; tarsus 8 or less 
Occiput and plumes white; or, whole plumage white. Bill 6 or more; tarsus8 or more 
occidentalis 
657 
655 
656 
3- A. hero/dias. (Lat. herodias, a proper name ; Gr. épwdias, erodias, a heron. Fig. 457.) GREAT 
| HERON. size, and varied dark colors; not dichromatic. Back without peculiar 
BuurE Heron. Of large size, and 1 dark colors; not dick tic. Back without pecul 
plumes at any season, but scapulars lengthened and lanceolate; an veccipital crest, two de- 
42 
