94 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



It is common in Florida and in Mexico, southward to the West Indies 

 and Central America. The bird called Peale's Egret* is supposed to 

 be the white phase of A. rufa. The nesting habits of the Reddish 

 Egret are essentially the same as those of the Louisiana and Snowy 

 Herons. Mr. Stuart informs me that he has never found them very 

 plentiful along the Gulf coast of Florida, where they breed on the 

 islands, placing the nest on the mangrove bushes. 



The eggs are light bluish-green, elliptical in form ; two to four in 

 number, and measure from 1.85 to 2.00 long by 1.40 to 1.50 broad. 



199. Ardea tricolor ruficollis (GossE.) [492.] 



Louisiana Heron. 



Hab. Gulf States, Mexico, Central America and West Indies; casually northward to New Jersey. 



In summer the Louisiana Heron is distributed from the Carolinas 

 southward. It is very abundant all along the Gulf States, into Mexico 

 and Central America, and is found in the West Indies. Known as 

 " Lady of the Waters." It has an occipital crest of several long feathers 

 and a splendid train of decomposed, fringe-like feathers extending be- 

 yond the tail. 



Mr. Stuart states that it is very abundant on the mangrove islands 

 along the gulf coast of Florida, where it breeds in communities, placing 

 the nests on the mangrove bushes ; in the interior it is found nesting 

 in the willow swamps, and usually in company with the Little Blue 

 and Snowy Herons. Four or five eggs are deposited. Fresh eggs 

 may be found in May and June. 



In Texas, Mr. Rachford says, this species nests similarly to the 

 Snowy Heron, but its breeding season commences a little earlier than 

 that of the latter about the first of April. 



The eggs are from two to four, sometimes five, in number, bluish- 

 green, and measure from 1.75 to 1.80 long by 1.30 to 1.40 broad. 



200. Ardea coerulea LINN. [493.] 



Little Blue Heron. 



Hab. New Jersey, Illinois and Kansas, southward through Central America, West Indies, Guiana and 

 New Grenada; casually north on the Atlantic coast to Massachusetts and Maine. 



This beautiful little Heron is abundant in the South Atlantic and 

 Gulf States. It has been found breeding in all favorable localities 

 intermediate between Florida and New Jersey, on the coast, and speci- 

 mens have wandered into the interior. It is found throughout Mexico, 

 Central America and the northern portion of South America. The 

 breeding habits are like those of the Snowy and Louisiana Herons, 



-Hypothetical List of the A. O. U. Check List. 



