from the Northern Bahamas. 305 



— 75. AltDEA TRICOLOR RUFICOLLIS (Gosse). 



Egretta ruficollis Gosse, Bds. Jam, p. 38 (1817). 

 Ardea leucogastra, var. leucoprymna I Cory, Bds. Bah. 2nd ed. 

 Ardea cyanirostris J p.l68&App. (1890). 



Ardea tricolor ruficollis (Gosse) ; Cory, Cat. W. Iud. Bds. 

 p. 89 (1892). 



<$ imm. Grassy Creek, Andros, 17th January, 1902. 

 <$ ? ad.,? imm. Spanish Wells, Audros, 22nd January, 

 1902. 

 2 <J ad. Fresh water, Andros, 28th January, 1902. 

 cf ad. Nassau, New Providence, 29th April, 1902. 

 ? ad. Grassy Creek, Andros, 4th May, 1902. 

 A very abundant species • examples taken at the end of 

 April were in full breeding-plumage with deep blue beaks. 

 They were very tame, and generally to be found in small 

 flocks round the large clumps of mangroves. In spring 

 they had all paired and did not appear to be gregarious. 

 One nest contained a single egg on the 17th of May. 



7(3. Ardea rufa Bodd. 



Ardea rufa Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 51(1783) ; Cory, Bds. 

 Bah. 2nded. p. 170 (1890). 



Herodias pealii Brewer, Pr. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. vii. 

 p. 308 (1860). 



Ardea rufescens Gmel. ; Cory, Cat. W. Ind. Bds. p. 89 

 (1892). 



A. Blue Form. 

 ? ad. Grassy Creek, Andros, 15th January, 1902. 

 J $ ad. Wide opening, Andros, 24th January, 1902. 

 <S imm. „ „ „ „ 



? ad. Fresh Creek, Andros, 5th February, 1902. 



B. White Form. 

 S ? ad. Grassy Creek, Andros, 11th January, 1902. 

 ? ad. „ „ 15th January, 1902 (shot 



from nest). 

 <$ <$ imm. Grassy Creek, Andros, 13th January, 1902. 

 Apparently this species is dimorphic ; but, so far as my 

 experience went, I never met with any intermediate specimens, 



SER. VIII. VOL. III. X 



