NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 93 



extended distribution, breeding as far north on the Atlantic coast as 

 New Jersey, on the Pacific coast to Oregon, and in the interior as far 

 north as Southern Illinois. It breeds throughout South America to 

 Patagonia, and is a resident on the Island of Trinidad. In the enor- 

 mous rookeries of Florida this bird was formerly abundant, but of late 

 years the 'plume hunters' have wrought great destruction in their 

 numbers. It is a bird of purest white, and during the breeding season 

 has a magnificent train of silky plumes flowing from the back over 

 the wings and drooping far beyond the tail. The nests of the Great 

 White Egret are built in deep cypress swamps, often on the tops of 

 the tallest trees ; others are found on low bushes or on mangroves, a 

 short distance above water. 



The eggs are plain bluish-green, varying from elliptical to oval ; 

 two to four in number and measure from 2.20 to 2.35 long by 1.40 to 

 1.65 broad. 



197. Ardea candidissima Gmel. [490.] 



SnoMiry Heron. 



Hab. Temperate and tropical America, from Long Island and Oregon, south to Buenos Ayres; casual 

 on the Atlantic coast to Nova Scotia. 



The breeding range of this species is almost the same as that of 

 the last. A few are supposed to be summer residents as far north as 

 Long Island, from thence southward it is found along the entire Gulf 

 coast and the shores of both oceans. It occurs in the interior as far 

 north as Oregon. Very abundant throughout a large portion of South 

 America, the West Indies, Mexico and Central America. It is called 

 Little White Egret, and is doubtless the handsomest bird of this 

 tribe. Pure white, with crest composed of numerous elongated, hair- 

 like feathers ; similar plume on the lower neck ; the same on the back 

 which extends beyond the tail and are recurved when perfect. In 

 Texas, Mr. Rachford says this species nests in colonies, usually prefer- 

 ing willow bushes in the marshes for this purpose. The breeding sea- 

 son is from the latter part of April to the middle of June. Mr. Stuart 

 mentions it as abundant along the Gulf coast of Florida, where it breeds 

 on the mangrove islands, and in the interior in the willow ponds and 

 swamps, generally in company with the Louisiana and Little Blue 

 Herons. The nest is simply a platform of sticks. 



The eggs are from two to five in number, usually four, varying 

 from elliptical to oval in form; sizes from 1.80 to 1.85 long by 1.20 to 

 1.25 broad. 



198. Ardea rufa Bodd. [491-] 



Reddish Egret. 



Hab. Gulf States and Mexico, south to Guatemala, Jamaica and Cuba. 



The Reddish Egret is an abundant resident of the Gulf States. 



