662 Eeport of State Geologist. . 



SiMfOKNUs (iAR/l-'-TTA K'ai p. 



'68. (T»7). Ardea candidissima (Gmel.). 



Snowy Heron. 



Adult. — :In breeding season "with a long occipital crest of decom- 

 posed feathers and similar dorsal plumes, latter recurved when per- 

 fect; similar, but not recurved plumes on the lower neck, which is 

 bare behind; lores, eyes and toes, yellow; bill and legs, black, former 

 yellow at base, latter yellow at lower part behind; plumage always en- 

 tirely white." (Mcllwraith, Birds of Ontario.) Smaller than the last. 

 Adult, after breeding season, and immature without dorsal plumes. 



Length, 24.00; wing, 11.00-12.00; bill, 3.00; tarsus, 3.50-4.00. 



Kakge. — Temperate and tropical America, from Long Island and 

 Oregon south to Argentine Eepublic and Chili; casually to Nova 

 Scotia and southern British Columbia. Minnesota. Breeds north to 

 southern Indiana. 



Nest, in trees and bushes, of sticks. Eggs, 3-5; pale, dull blue; 1.83 

 by 1.22. 



Migrant and summer resident in southern part of the State; not 

 common; breeding locally in the lower Wabash Valley. Mr. Ridgway 

 informs me of its breeding in Knox and Gibson counties. Mr. E. J. 

 Chansler tells me of its occurrence at Swan and Grassy ponds, Daviess 

 County, where he thinks it breeds. Prof. J. A. Balmer says though 

 they varied in numbers from year to year, they were quite constant 

 summer residents in Knox County in 1890. They were common about 

 Swan Pond. This, so far as known, is its most northern breeding 

 ground. After breeding they roam over the country, some extending 

 their journeys, as may be gathered from reported occurrences, into 

 Michigan, Ontario and Manitoba. They are smaller birds than the 

 last species, but are exceedingly graceful. Their range is not so ex- 

 tensive and their numbers are less with us. They have been noted in 

 Lake County (L. T. Meyer), Allen County (C. A. Stockbridge), Frank- 

 lin County (E. E. Quick), Jefferson County (Hubbard), and lower 

 Wabash Valley (Stein). Some of these records may refer to the larger 

 species last mentioned. 



Like the American Egret, the Snowy Heron is guilty of wearing 

 through the breeding season beautiful plumes. These are the orna- 

 ments technically called "aigrettes" by the millinery trade. To secure 

 them the death of the bird is necessary. This necessity has led to the 

 destruction of the larger part of the great numbers of these beautiful, 

 graceful birds, which were so characteristic an aspect of the southern 

 landscape a few years ago. These birds were not injurious; they were 



