KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FI.ORIDA. 249 



ARDETTA NEOXENA Cory. 

 Cory's Bittern.* 



Top of the head, back, and tail dark greenish black, show- 

 ing a green gloss when held in the light. Sides of the head 

 and throat rufous chestnut; the feathers on tlie back of 

 the neck showing greenish black tips ; breast and under parts 

 nearly uniform chestnut, shading into dull black on the 

 sides ; wing coverts dark rufous chestnut ; all the remiges 

 entirely slaty plumbeous ; under tail coverts dull black. 



Wing, 4.30; Tarsus, 1.40; Bill, 1.80. 



This interesting little Bittern was described by me in 1886 from a speci- 

 men taken in the Everglades of Florida. Since then a dozen or more 

 specimens have been secured, most of them from Florida, but one was taken 

 near Toronto, and another in Michigan. It is probably not uncommon in 

 some localities, but its retiring disposition makes it seem rare, as it is seldom 

 seen. 



Subfamily ARDEIN^. Herons and Egrets. 



Genus ARDEA Linn. 



Subgenus ARDEA. 



ARDEA OCCIDENTALI5 Aud. 

 Great White Heron. 



Adult : (General plumage entirely white; bill yellow: upper part of the leg near the feath- 

 ers, and soles of the feet yellow : the lower part of the leg from the knee to the foot (tarsus) yellow. 

 Length about 50; Wing about 18.50 to 20; Bill, 6.50; Tarsus. 8.50. 



* When I described this bird in 1886 I gave it no English name, simply calling it neoxena (new and strange). The com- 

 mittee of the American Ornithologists' Union have since done me the honor of giving it my name. 



