LITTLE EGRET. 



461 



in front elongated ; those of the back greatly lengthened and 

 filamentous ; the legs black ; toes blackish green ; claws 

 black. 



Whole length twenty-four inches. From the beak to the 

 feathers on the forehead, three inches and a half; from the 

 carpal joint to the end of the wing, eleven inches and a 

 quarter ; the first and fourth quill-feathers equal in length ; 

 but not so long as the second and third, which are also equal 

 in length, and the longest in the wing ; length of tarsus four 

 inches ; bare part above two inches and a half. 



Young birds are said to be greyish white, and without the 

 elongated plumes. 



