

ARDEA CAERULEA. 99 



Egrets first flew up onto the reeds above the nests, and then immedi- 

 ately took to flight, not returning ; while N. obscurus rose and sailed 

 away, uttering a deep squawk, squawk, long before one came near 

 the nest. 



" At one side of the colony a nest of Ciconia maguari, with two full- 

 grown young, seemed like the reigning house of the place. 



" It certainly was one of the finest ornithological sights I ever saw : 

 all around a wilderness of dark green rushes, rising above my head as I 

 sat on horseback ; the cloud of graceful snow-white birds perched every- 

 where, or reflected in the water as they flew to and fro overhead ; and 

 the hundreds of blue eggs exposed to the bright sunlight. 



"A. egretta and A. candidissima lay four eggs each, though the 

 former rarely hatches out more than three. N. obscurus lays and hatches 

 out three. The eggs of all three species are of the same shade of 

 light blue." 



317. ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, Gm. 

 (SNOWY EGRET.) 



Ardea candidissima, ScletSalv. Nomencl.ip. 125; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 189 

 (Buenos Ayres) j Gibson, Ibis, 1880, p. 158 (Buenos Ayres) ; Barrows, Auk, 

 1884, p. 271 (Entrerios). Garzetta candidissima, Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. 

 Water-B. N. A. i. p. 28. Ardea nivea, Burm. La-Plata Reise,i\. p. 509. 



Description. White above and beneath ; adult with a long occipital crest of 

 decomposed feathers and dorsal plumes lengthened ; lores and toes yellow ; bill 

 black, yellow at base ; legs black, behind yellowish at the lower part : whole 

 length 24'0 inches, wing 9'5, tail 4*0. Female similar. 



Hob. North and South America. 



The Snowy Egret is common on the pampas, and throughout all the 

 warm portions of North and South America; but does not range so far 

 south as Ardea egretta. It is a very pretty bird in its dazzling white 

 plumage, and is more active and social in its habits than most Herons, 

 being usually seen in small flocks, and often associates with Ibises and 

 other aquatic species. An account of its breeding-habits has already 

 been given. 



318, ARDEA C.ERULEA, Linn. 

 (BLUE HERON.) 



Ardea caerulea, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 509. Florida caerulea, Baird, 

 Brew., et Ridgw. Water-B. N. A. i. p. 43. 



Description. Dark bluish plumbeous ; head and neck purplish chestnut ; bill 



H2 



