304 Synopsis of the Birds 



Fly gracefully with the neck bent backwards, and the head 

 resting against the back. 



Inhabit throughout the world. 



SUBGENUS I. ARDEA. 



Herons proprement dits, Bvff. Vieill. Temm. Herons vrais, 

 Aigrettes, Cuv. Ardea, Stephens. 



Bill much longer than the head, at base as broad or 

 broader than high, quite straight. Neck very long, slender, 

 beneath with slender, elongated, pendent plumes : body thin- 

 flanked. Legs very long ; naked space above the tarsus 

 extensive. 



Diurnal. Feed principally on fishes. The largest of the 

 genus. 



226. Ardea herodias, L. Crested; bluish-ash; thighs fer- 

 ruginous ; middle toe much shorter than the tarsus. 



Adult, crown black and white, with two long tapering black 

 feathers ; back with long, narrow, white, tapering plumes. 



Young, crown dark slate ; no long feathers on the back. 



Great Heron, Ardea herodias, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. p. 28. 

 pi. 65. fig. 2. adult. 



Inhabits common, and resident in the union: rare, and mi- 

 gratory in the North-eastern states. 



227. Ardea alba, L. Slightly crested ; snowy white ; bill 

 yellow; legs black, very long, slender, naked for four inches 

 above the tarsus. 



Adult, back with long flowing plumes stiff and falling, 

 reaching beyond the tail. 



Young and moulting destitute of the dorsal train. 



Great White Heron, Ardea egretta, Wils. Am. Orn. vii. 

 p. io6. pi. ei.Jig. i. 



Inhabits the northern hemisphere. 



228. Ardea pealii, Nob. Crested ; snowy white ; bill flesh- 

 color, the point and legs black ; toes beneath yellow ; tarsus 

 more than five inches long. 



