AKDEID.E. LVI. 131 



on the breast; usually long plumes from the back or 

 head in the breeding season. Wings broad. Tail very 

 short. Tibue largely naked below; toes long and slen- 

 der, hind toe on a level with the rest, middle claw 

 pectinate. Sexes usually colored alike. Species nearly 

 one hundred; in most parts of the world, abundant in 

 the warmer regions. 



* Tail of 12 feathers ; usually a crest or train in the breeding 



season ; lateral toes more than half length of tarsus, 

 f Tibia bare two inches or more. 

 $ Length 36 or more. 



a. General color bluish or ashy brown. . ARDEA, 1. 

 aa. Color white at all times. . . . HERODIAS, 2. 

 ft Length 24 or less. 

 &. Color white at all times ; legs black and yellow. 



GARZETTA, 3. 



&&. General color bluish (young white), legs black or bluish. 



FLORIDA, 4. 

 f f Tibia bare one inch or less. 



c. Tarsus shorter than middle toe and claw. 



d. Bill more than thrice as long as high. . BUTORIDES, 5. 



dd. Bill not three times as long as high. NYCTIARDEA, 6. 



cc. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw; bill more than 



half an inch deep at base. . . NYCTIIERODIUS, 7. 



** Tail of 10 feathers ; no crest nor train ; lower neck bare behind ; 



length less than 30. 



e. Length more than 18 ; tawny, much streaked. BOTAURUS, 8. 

 ee. Length less than 18 ; glossy blackish or chestnut. 



ARDETTA, 9. 



/. ARDEA, Linnaeus. HERONS. 



1. A. herodias, L. GREAT BLUE HERON. Grayish 

 blue, marked with black and white; back of head crested 

 in breeding season; tibia and edge of wing chestnut 

 brown; L. 48; W. 20; T. 7; B. 5; Ts. 6; $ much 

 smaller. U. S., common. 



