AKDEID^E. LVI. 131 



on the breast; usually long plumes from the back or 

 head in the breeding season. Wings broad. Tail very 

 short. Tibire 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. . . . HEIIODIAS, 2. 

 ft Length 24 or less. 

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



GARZETTA, 3. 



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



FLORIDA, 4. 

 ff 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. Herod ias, 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. 1 48; W. 20; T. 7; B. 5; Ts. 6; ? much 

 smaller. U. S., common. 



