GRALLATORES I ARDEID.E. 247 



wound ; and the danger is greater, as these birds gen- 

 erally aim at the eye. The nest is placed on a large 

 tree in a dense swamp. It is large and flat, built of 

 sticks, and matted with grass and mosses. The eggs 

 are three, dull bluish-white. 



The Florida Heron, A. Wurdmanii, Baird, of South 

 Florida, is forty-nine inches long. 



The Genus Audubonia comprises the Great White 

 Heron, A. occidentalis, Bonap., of South Florida and Cuba, 

 which is forty -five inches long. 



The Genus Florida has the bill convex above, straight 

 below, and very acute. 



The Blue Heron, F. ccerulea, Baird, of the South At- 

 lantic and Gulf States, is twenty-two inches long, the 

 wing eleven inches ; the color slate-blue. 



The Genus Ardetta has claws long and acute, body 

 compressed, the lower neck bare of feathers behind, and 

 the tail with ten feathers. It embraces the smallest 

 known herons. 



The Least Bittern, A. exilis, Gray, of North America, 

 is thirteen inches long, the wing four and three . quarters 

 inches ; the head above and back dark glossy green ; the 

 upper neck, shoulders, greater coverts, and outer webs of 

 some of the tertials, purplish cinnamon. The female has 

 the green of the head and back replaced by chestnut, 

 The nest is built on low bushes ; eggs three to four, dull 

 yellowish-green. 



The Genus Botaurus has the plumage loose, and the 

 sexes similar. 



The Bittern or Stake-driver, B. lentiginosus, Steph., of 

 all North America, is twenty-six and a half inches long, 

 the wing eleven inches ; the color is brownish yellow 

 finely varied with dark brown and brownish red ; and 

 there is a broad, black stripe on each side of the neck. 

 It seldom flies till you are close upon it, and then it 

 moves off very sluggishly. 



