of the United States. 305 



Adult, crest and neck-fringe large, of compact pointed 

 feathers ; back with long, straight, filiform plumes, reaching 

 beyond the tail. 



Young destitute of these ornaments. 



PeaWs Egret Heron, Ardea pealii, Nob. Am. Orn. adult. 



Inhabits Florida, and probably the analogous climates of 

 America. Closely allied to the following, and perhaps still 

 more so to the European Ardea garzetta ! Intermediate be- 

 tween those two so closely related species! (21.) 



229. Ardea candidissima, Gm. Crested ; snowy white ; bill 

 and legs black; toes yellow; tarsus less than four inches long. 



Adult, crest and neck-fringe large, of loose flowing feathers; 

 back with long, silky, recurved plumes, hardly reaching be- 

 yond the tail. 



Young but slightly crested, destitute of the dorsal train. 



Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima, Wils. Am. Orn. vii. 

 p. 120. pl» 62. Jig. 4. adult. 



Inhabits both Americas ; said to be found also in Asia, 

 which is doubtful. 



230. Ardea ludoviciana, Wils. nee auct. Crested ; bluish- 

 slate ; back, rump and beneath, white ; neck feathers pur- 

 plish ; back with long, capillary, purplish plumes. 



Young destitute of the ornamental feathers. 



Louisiana Heron, Ardea ludoviciana, Wils. Am. Orn. viii. 

 p. 13. pi. 64. Jig. l. adult. 



Inhabits during the fine season, the south and south-western 

 states ; probably also all the warmer portion of America. 



SUBGENUS II. BOTAURUS. 



Bihoreau et Butor, Ternm. Butors, Bihoreaux, Cuv. 

 Herons-Bihoreaux, Hcrons-Butors, Hcrons-Crabiers, Vieill. 

 Botaurus, Nycticorax, Stephens. 



Bill hardly longer than the head, much compressed, higher 

 than broad ; upper mandible somewhat curved. Legs com- 

 paratively short; naked space of the tibiae restricted. Neck 



