263. 
663. 
264. 
664, 
662 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. —HERODIONES — HERODII. 
Garzetta candidissima, as they are of the *. size, and not strikingly different in form; 
notice lores and basal half of bill greenish-blue, the rest blackish; most of lower mandible 
yellowish ; legs greenish-blue, with yellow traces, or bluish-black ; the snowy heron has no 
bluishness about the soft parts. $8. Atlantic and Gulf States, resident, abundant; N. in 
summer often to the Middle States, casually to New England. Nesting as usual; eggs 3-4, 
1.75 X 1.25, of usual shape and color. 
BUTORIDES. (Lat. butor, a bittern; Gr. eidos, eidos, resemblance.) GREEN HERONS. 
Size small; length one and a half feet. Bill moderate, longer than tarsus, with gently convex 
culmen and gonys. Legs short; tibie little denuded; tarsus seareely or not longer than 
middle toe and claw. An occipital crest of lengthened, lanceolate, not decomposed, feathers ; 
neck-feathers long but blended, those below depending in a tuft, those on sides hiding an 
extensive bare space behind. In the breeding season, feathers of back lengthened, lance- 
linear, but compact-webbed, and not forming a train. Upper parts glossy green. 
B. vires/cens. (Lat. virescens, growing green.) GREEN Heron. Adult in the breeding season 
with the crown, long soft occipital crest, and lengthened narrow feathers of the back lustrous 
dark green, sometimes with a bronzy iridescence; the dorsal plumes in high plumage with 
a.glaucous bluish cast. Wing-coverts green, with conspicuous tawny edgings ; neck rich dark 
purplish-chestnut, the throat-line variegated with dusky and white. 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: Head less crested; back with- 
out long narrow plumes, but glossy-greenish ; neck merely reddish-brown ; whole under parts 
white, variegated with tawny and dark brown. Length 16.00-18.00; extent about 25.00; 
wing 6.50-7.50; bill 2.50; tarsus 2.00; middle toe and claw about the same; tibiee bare 1.00 
or less. U.S8., and a little beyond, abundant in summer; resident in the South, and beyond. 
This is a very pretty and engaging little heron, in spite of the ridiculous nickname by which it 
is so well known to the great unwashed democracy of America. Breeds anywhere in its range, 
sometimes in communities with larger species, often by itself in pairs. Nest a rude platform 
of twigs, on tree or bush ; eggs 3-6, elliptical, 1.37 1.12, pale greenish. 
NYCTIAR'DEA. (Gr. vv&, gen. vuxrés, nux, nuktos, night: Lat. ardea, a heron. Fig. 460.) 
Nicur Herons. Of medium size; length about 
2 feet. Bill very stout for this family; bill, tarsus, 
and middle toe with claw, of approximately equal 
lengths. Tarsus reticulate in front below. Tibize 
briefly naked below. Neck short, corresponding to 
the short legs; body stout. No peculiar plumes, 
excepting two or three extremely long filamentous 
feathers springing from the hind head, generally 
imbricated in one bundle. Sexes alike; young 
very different. A better genus than any of the 
; foregoing, as distinguished from Ardea, but very 
Fre. 460.— Night Heron. (From Lewis.) near the next, which might be combined with it. 
N. gri/sea ne’via. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT Heron. QuaA-Birp. Squawk. Adult ¢ 
9: Crown, seapulars and interseapulars very dark glossy green; other upper parts, wings 
and tail, pale bluish-gray with a lilac or lavender tinge, most decided on the neck. Fore- 
head and throat-line white, shading into the lilaceous of the neck; under parts whitish, 
tinged with lilac. The long occipital plumes white. Eyes red; lores greenish; bill black; 
legs yellow; claws brown. Length 23.00-26.00; extent about 44.00; wing 12.00-14.00; 
tail 5.00; bill, tarsus, middle toe with claw, each 3.00 or a little more; tibize bare about an 
