258 Mearns, a Ne-v North American Heron. \\^ 



This Heron bears no close resemblance to either of the four 

 insular forms (satiiratiis, frazari, ba/iamensis, and bninncsceiis) 

 hitherto described ; but, as would be pre-supposed, is most closely 

 related to the continental species, Ardea vircsceus, from which it 

 differs in being larger. It is, in fact, the largest of the forms 

 mentioned. Pallor is its distinguishing characteristic. The usu- 

 ally black sagittate spots of the neck are brownish, and fewer in 

 number. The sides of the neck are purplish chestnut and rufous 

 instead of glaucous bay. The green of the wings is yellowish 

 bottle green, the tail blackish bottle green, and the scapulars glau- 

 cous gray. The under surface of the body and under side of 

 wings are much paler and less slaty than in virescejis. The pale 

 or whitish edging of the wdng-coverts, and on the edge of the 

 wing, are much broader and whiter. The whitish of the under 

 side of the head and neck extends continuously from the bill to 

 the end of the pectoral plumes, and is less invaded by the dark 

 coloring of the sides of the neck. 



From frazari ^ and saturatus - it differs in its larger size, and 

 much paler coloration, with much less restriction of the pale or 

 whitish markings. The metallic colors of the upper surface are 

 wholly different. 



From bahameusis^ it is readily distinguished by its much greater 

 size and different coloring, though the Bahama bird is, perhaps, 

 even paler; and from bruiinescens^ it may be instantly recognized 

 by the presence of white on the throat and neck, which is want- 

 ing in bn(nnesce?!s^ in which the whole neck and throat are rufus 

 brown, with a tinge of orange brown on the chin. 



The dimensions of this subspecies and of vircsceus {veriis) are 

 shown in the appended table of measurements, taken in milli- 

 meters from fresh specimens, measured in the field by the writer. 



'^ Ardea virescens frazari Brewster, Auk, V, p. S3, iSSS. '^ Habitat. Near 

 La Paz, Lower California." 



* Described by Mr. Ridgway from Swan Island, West Indies. 



'^ Ardea bahamcnsis Brewster, Auk, V, p. S3, 1SS8. ''Habitat. Bahamas 

 (Rum Cay, Watling's Island, Abaco)." 



i Ardea britiinescens. "Gundl. Mss." Lemb. Aves Cuba, p. 84, 1S50. 

 '^Habitat. Cuba." 



