ARDElDJi— THE HEKOXS. 128* 



Acoordino- to Dr. Brewer, the flight of this species is said to 

 be more elevated and regular than that of the smaller herons. 

 It is peculiarly gi-aceful during the mating season, especially 

 when one unmated male is pui'suing another. It is said to pass 

 through the air with great celerity, turning and cutting about 

 in curious curves and zigzags, the pursuing bird frequently 

 erecting its beautiful crest and uttering a cry at the momeni 

 it is about to give a thrust at the other. When travelling to 

 and from their feeding-grounds, it propels itself with the usual 

 regular flapping, and in the customary manner of flight oi 

 other herons. On approaching a landing-place, it performs 

 several circumvolutions, as if to satisfy itself that all is safi 

 before alighting. It is much more shy and wary than the smaller 

 herons: and after the breeding season is over it is almost im- 

 possible to shoot one, except when it is taken by -surprLse, or 

 when flying overhead among the mangroves. 



Subgenus Florida B.mkd. 



Florida Baied. B. N. Am. 1858, 671. Type. Ardea rtrriilea Linn. 



Gen. Chab. Small Heroni?, dark plumbeous, with maroon-colored necks; purfi white, 

 with bluish tips to some of the primaries; or with the i)lumaKe variously interraciliate be- 

 tween these extremes. Bill slender, appreciably curved toward tlie tip, the culmen some- 

 what depressed just above the anterior end of the nostril; lower edge of the mamlibular 

 rami slightly concave, the gonys nearly straich", but ascending; anterior point of tlu^ 

 malar feathers reaching just about as far forward as that of th*" frontal feathers, and very 

 tur posterior to the posterior end of the nostril; anterior point of chin feathers almost di 

 rectly beneath the anterior end of the nostril, and a little over two thirds the distunei from 

 the middle of the eye to the point of the bill. Toes long, the middle one two thirds, or 

 morf. as long as the tarsus, the hallux a little less than half its length: bare portion of tibia 

 considerably less than middle too. Tarsal scutelhe as in Garzelta and lierodiax. 



Nuptial plumes (occipital, jugular, and 6cai)ular) long, slenderly lanceolate, the webs 

 rather compact, especially those of the dorsal region, the longer scapulars, however, loose- 

 webbed, those of the back reaching, when fully developed, far beyond the tall. 



This subgenus also is peculiar to America, and contains n 

 single species, the Little Blue Heron {Ardm cccruJat, Linn.), the 

 adults of which are usually daik slaty blue with uuiroon-che.st- 

 nut head and neck and the young pure white wilh bhiisli tips 

 to some of the longer primary quills. 



