AKDEIDA;— THE HER0N8. 118* 



Genus ARDEA Linn^us. 



Ardea LniH. S. M. ed. 10, i, 17^8, 141. Type, by elimiaation, A. cinerea LiNH. 



Analysis of Subgenera 



u' Culmen 'lecidedly shorter than tarsus, the latter more than one and a half times as long 

 as the middle toe. without claw, 

 iy' Tarsus much less than twice as long as middle toe, without claw. 

 c' Wing more than 13 inches. 



d' Wing more than 17 inches. Adults with scapular plumes narrowly lanceolate, 

 with compact webs: head crested, the occiput, during pairing season, 

 with two or more long, slender, compactly webbed plumes; plumes of 



lower neck stiffened, narrowly lanceolate, or acicular Ardea. 



(P Wing less than 17 inches. Adults in nuptial plumage with the scapular 

 plumes excessively elongated, reaching far beyond the tail, their shafts 

 thick and stiffened, their webs decomposed; head without crest or 

 plumes, and feathers of lower neck (in American species) soft, broad, and 



not lengthenel; color, always wholly pure white Herodias. 



c' WlBg less than 11 inches. 



d' Adults with occipital, jugular, and scapular plumes greatly developed, with 

 much decomposed webs (occipital and jugular plumes with compact webs 

 in exotic species); the scapular plumes extending to or beyond end of 

 tail and recurved at tips; color of plumage always wholly pure white. 



Garzetta. 

 eP Adults with jugular and scapular plumes much elongated ; the former nar- 

 rowly lanceolate, with compact webs, the latter also narrow, but more 

 loosely webbed, and often extending far beyond the tail; color of plumage 

 varying from uniform dark slate-blue, with maroon-colored head and 

 nek (in most adults), to pure white with only the tips of some primaries 



bluish lin young); adults sometimes mixed white and bluish Florida. 



fc' Tarsus twice as long as middle toe, without claw. Adults with feathers of entire 

 head and neck, except throat and upper foreneck, elongated and narrowly 

 lanceolate, especially on occiput and lower foreneck; scapular plumes much 

 elongated, extending beyond end of tail, with shafts straight and stiffened, and 

 webs decomposed, but the halr-likc (Ibrill.-e rather close together; color of plum- 

 age nnlform bluish and reddish, iiiiifoim white, or pied Dichromanaasa. 



a* Culmen equal to or longer than tarsus, the latter less than on«-«ind a half times as lone 

 as middle toe without claw. 

 b' Wing more thi'ji 8 inches; culmen nml tarsus more than 3 inches. Adults with an 

 occipital tuft of several moderately lengthened, lanceolate, compactly webbrd 

 feathers; jugular plumes broadly lanceolate, with compact webs; scapular 

 plumes greatly elongated, extending to beyond end of tall, straight, hair-like; 

 color of plumage mixed grayish or bluish and white, never entirely white, 



Hydranaasa. 

 b* Wing not morn than 8 inches; culmon and tarsus less thiin 3 inches. Adults with 

 scapular plumes and feathers on top of head moderately lengthened, lanceolate, 

 with compact webs; jugul;jr plumes broad, soft, aud blended; color of plumage 

 more or less metallic, in adults, on upper parts, grayish pr rusty beneath; never 

 white Butoriddi, 



