170 BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 



ARDEA RUFA. Bodd. 

 Reddish Egret. 



Winter Plumage, Male. — Slaty gray ; head and neck below, 

 brown; an occipital crest of the same color; lores, flesh-color; iris, 

 white; bill, black on the terminal half, like the lores at the base; 

 legs, bluish. Immature plumage entirely white or slaty gray ; legs, 

 greenish ; soles of the feet, yellow. 



Length 29, wing 14, tail 4, tarsus 5.30, bill 3.90. 



There is a great difference in the plumage of young and old 

 birds; some adults are white, while some young birds are colored ;- 

 but these are exceptions. 



The Reddish Egret is a resident, and much more abundant tlian 

 any other species of its family. Incubation commences about May 

 15. The nest is a rough structure, composed of sticks loosely put 

 together, and built in the lower branches of the mangroves close to 

 the water. On June 25, I procured two young birds from the same 

 nest, one p2C7'e zu/iitc Mid the other gray . Neither of them was then 

 able to fly. The white one appeared to be a weak little thing, and 

 died a few days afterwards; but his brother soon gained strength, 

 grew finely, and is at the present time well and hearty, eats quanti- 

 ties of fish, and amuses itself by chasing stray dogs out of the yard 

 in which it lives. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol VI. pi. 371. 



