127* BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



Mchromanassa rufa Eidgw. Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geog. Surv. Terr, iv, No. 1. 1S78. 236 (in 



text): Nom. N. Am.B. 1881, No. 491.— CouES.Cheok List,2d ed. 1882, Xo. 661.— B.B. & K. 



Water B. N. Am. i, 1884. 33. 

 Reddish Egret Lath. Synop. iii. 1785. 88 (quotes PI. Enl. 902). 

 Areda rvfescens Gmel. S. N. i, pt. 11,1788,628, No. 33 (based on PI. Enl. 9021.— Aitd. Orn. Biog. 



iii, 1835. 411: v, 1839, 604. pi. 256; Birds Am. vi, 1843, 139, pi. 371 (adult: both phases).— 



BiDGW. Man. N. Am. B. 1SS7, 131. 

 Ardea cuhensis "Gondl. MSS." Lemb. Aves de Cuba, 1850, 84, pi. 13, fig. 1 (young). 



b . Wliite phase. 

 Ardea pealei BoNAP. Ann. Lye. N. T. ii, 1826. 154.— Nutt. Man. ii, 1834. 49.— Eidgw. Man. N. 

 Am. B. 1887. 131. 

 Demiegrella pealei Baied. B. N. Am. 1858, 661: Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 182. 

 Ardea rufa, var. pealei. Eeichenots", J. f. 0. 1877. 270. 



Ardea (Sichromanassa) pealei A. O. U. Cheek List. 1886. 362 (hypothet. list. No. 10). 

 Hae. Warm-temperate and tropical North America, south to Guatemala; in the United 

 States, apiiareutly icstricted to the Eastern Province, but in Mexico occurring on both 

 coasts; north to southern Illinois; Jamaica: Cuba. 



Colored phase. 



Adiilt. Plumage in general uniform slate-gray, darker on the bai^k, a little lighter be- 

 neath; entire head and neck rich vinaceous-cinnamon, ending abruptly below: the penicil- 

 late tips of soma of the longer feathers, particularly on the occiput, lighter: train similar to 

 the back anteriorly, but passing into a more brownish tint towards the eml, the tips some- 

 times whitish. Terminal half of the bill black: basal half, including the lores and eyelids, 

 pale flesh-color or pale grayit-h (according to season); iris yellow or white; legs and feet 

 black, or (in breeding season) ultramarine blue, the scutellie anu claws black. (Audubon.) 



Toiing. No train on the back, and no lanceolate feathers on head or neck,exceptsome- 

 times (in older individuals) on the occiput or lower neck. Prevailing color dull bluish 

 ashy, tinged here and there with reddish cinnamon, principally on ilie throat aud lower 

 Il%k. 



White phase. 



Adult. Plumage entirely pure white, the plumes exactly as in the adult of the colored 

 pha^e. Iris white: color cf bill, lores, aud eyelids in lite also similar; but legs and feet 

 sometimes "dark olive-green, the soles greenish yellow." (Audubon.) 



Yoiina. Entirely pure white, and destitute of the plumes and train of the adult. 



Total length, a' ou" 27.00-32.00; expanse, about 45.00-50.00; weight, abcut Ih pounds. 

 (AuDUE0>j Wing, Il.!i0-13.6(i: tail, 4.10-5.00; culmen.3.30-4.00; depthof bill. .55-.70: tarsus, 

 4.90-5.75: middle toe. 2.50-2.85; bare portion of tibia, 2.60-3.75. 



The inclusion o! this southern species of heron in the Illinois 

 fauna rests on the statement of Mr. E. W. Nelson, in his paper 

 on the birds of southern Illinois,* that he found it "quite com- 

 mon in the vicinity of Cairo during the last week in August. 

 1875," the unusually high water of that season having caused 

 a much larger number of herons than usual to make their ap- 

 pearance. He observed that "although Ardea egretta and A. 

 cmrulea — both of which were seen by the hundred daily — were 

 quite unsuspicious, A. inifa was so exceedingly shy that it was 

 almost imi)ossible to get within gunshot of one." 



•Bulletin Nuttall Ornithological Club, 1, 1876. p. 40. 



