BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. I7I 



ARDEA C^RULEA. Linn. 

 Little Blue Heron. 



AihtH Male. — Slaty blue, shading into purple on the head and 

 neck ; bill, blue, becoming dark at the end ; legs, black. Immature 

 plumage, pui^e white, generally showing a tinge of blue usually on 

 the primaries; Icgs^ greenish blue; toes, yelloiv. 



Length about 23, wing 11, tarsus 3.60. 



The Little Blue Heron is abundant during the winter. All the 

 specimens taken were young birds in the white jjlumage; no adults 

 were seen. Dr. Bryant reoards this bird as '• the most common 

 species of Heron. From the nature of the keys, and the general 

 absence of marsh grounds, I had been led to suppose that birds of 

 this family would be rare, but this was by no means the case." 

 None were taken during the summer, although I thought I saw it 

 twice in June. 



Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 372. 



ARDEA VIRESCENS. Linn. 

 Green Heron. 



Winter Plumage, Male. — An oceipital erest of dark green ; neck, 

 chestnut ; throat marked heavily with white ; under parts pale 

 purplish or ashy, marked with white; back, greenish, showing tinge 



