of the United States. 303 



Inhabits throughout North America : rarely seen in the 

 middle states. 



46. ARDEA. 



Ardea, L. Gm. Lath. III. Cuv. Temm. Vieill. Ranz. 



Ardea, Herodias, Botaurus, JYycticorax, Ardeola, Boie. 



Bill long, cleft beneath the eyes, straight, compressed- 

 cultrate, acuminate, acute; mandibles subequal, generally 

 serrated in a slight degree near the extremity ; the upper slight- 

 ly furrowed on each side at base, notched ; ridge rounded, 

 somewhat distinct at base, curved gradually at the point : 

 nostrils placed in the furrow, basal, linear, longitudinal, 

 covered behind by a membrane : tongue moderate, membra- 

 nous, oblong, plain, acute : lora and orbits naked. Body 

 much compressed. Feet long, slender; tarsus but little 

 longer than the middle toe, generally clypeate, superior scales 

 scutelliform, rarely scutellate; toes scutellated, elongated, 

 slender, slightly margined, flattened beneath ; outer connected 

 at base by a membrane ; inner nearly free ; hind toe articu- 

 lated internally on a level with the rest, at least half as long 

 as the middle one, resting on the ground, connected at base 

 with the inner : nails long, slender, acute; middle one serrated 

 internally ; hind nail largest, much curved, very acute. 

 Wings moderate, obtuse, tuberculated ; first primary subequal 

 to the second and third, which are longest. Tail short, round- 

 ed, of ten or twelve feathers. 



Female similar to the male. Young different from the 

 adult, obtaining their full plumage only after the third year. 

 Moult annually. Varying greatly in size in the different spe- 

 cies. Adult more ornamented by long slender feathers, lost 

 in moulting, and not renewed for some time. Down silky. 



Dull : sitting on trees near the water, or inhabiting mo- 

 rasses. Feed exclusively on animals, especially fishes and 

 reptiles. Build socially in high trees ; eggs about four. 



