VoLXin Mearxs, a Ne-v North American Heron. 257 



DESCRIPTION OF A NEW HERON {ARDEA VIRES- 



CENS ANTHONY!) FROM THE ARID REGION 



OF THE INTERIOR OF 



NORTH AMERICA. 



BY EDGAR A. MEARNS, M. D. 



On comparing a series of Green Herons, in breeding plumage, 

 from the New and Salton Rivers, streams of the Colorado Desert 

 crossing the Mexican boundary line, collected by the writer, in 

 April and May, 1894,1 with specimens in similar condition from 

 other regions, the Colorado Valley form is found to constitute as 

 valid a race of the Ardea virescens as any of those hitherto sepa- 

 rated. It is proposed, therefore, to describe it as a new subspecies, 

 and to name it Ardea virescens anf/ionyi, in honor of Mr. A. W. 

 Anthony, of San Diego, California, who, during recent years, has 

 contributed so much to our knowledge of the avifauna of the 

 West, especially the region of the Pacific coast. 



Ardea virescens anthonyi, new subspecies. 



Subspecific characters.— Similar to Ardea {Butorides) virescens of the 

 eastern United States, but slightly larger, and paler throughout, with the 

 light markings of the wings, neck and throat much less restricted, and 

 ^v'niter. 



Tvpe.— 'So. 135,576, Smithsonian Museum (original No. 10,529), i 

 ad. Taken at Seven Wells, Salton River, on the Colorado Desert, Lower 

 California, near monument No. 213, Mexican boundary line, April 12, 

 1S94, by Dr. Edgar A. Mearns. Length, 485; alar expanse, 740; wing, 

 207 ; tail, 79 ; culmen, measured from frontal feathers, 59 ; tarsus, 55 ; 

 middle toe and claw, 58 mm. 



Geographic distribution.— i:\iU is a bird of the arid regions of the 

 interior. There are specimens in the Smithsonian collection from Yreka 

 and Sacramento, California, from the Valley of Mexico, and from Santa 

 Efigenia, Tehuantepec. It breeds on the Verde River, in Central Arizona, 

 and was found bv us on the streams of the Mexican boundary line, from 

 the San Bernardino River (monument No. 77)- to the Coast Range ot 

 California, in which region it was also breeding. 



• Eighteen specimens were collected by the writer, in Central Arizona: and 

 fourteen were collected by him and his assistant. Mr. Frank X. llokner. on the 

 recent re-survey of the Mexican boundary. 



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