152 A FLYING TBIP TO THE TROPICS. 



9. MyCTERIA AMERICANA (LlNN.). Jabil'U. 



I saw only two of these large birds, and tliey were on the 

 lower river. I thought that they were a species of ibis, as they 

 flew in just the same Avay, with their necks extended instead of 

 doubled back like the herons. Their plumage is snowy white ; 

 the beak, head, and legs black. The native name is " cabeza 

 negra," black head. 



10. Ardea cocoi (Linn.). Cocoi Heron. 



Seen abundantly at every point along the Magdalena. This 

 bird is very much like our great blue heron, but has more white 

 below, and the entire crown is black. The Spanish name for 

 heron is " garza." 



11. Ardea egretta (Gmel.). White Egret. 



I saw a great many of these birds along the river, though they 

 were by no means as abundant as the preceding species. We 

 sometimes saw them in small flocks, but rarely saw more than 

 two of the cocoi herons flying together. Aud. B. of N. A. vol. 

 6, pi. 370. 



12. Ardea candidissima (Gmel.). Snowy Heron. 



These beautiful little birds were by far the commonest of the 

 herons. We saw them continually, and at some places the muddy 

 edgfes of the river were lined with them. Towards nio-htfall 

 they flew overhead, going to their roosting-places in large flocks. 

 Aud. B. ofN. A. vol. 6, pi. 374. 



13. Butorides cyanurus (Vieill.). Blue-tailed Heron. 



I saw a good many of these in the marshes near Barranquilla, 

 and I shot one ; but unfortunately it was stolen by a cat before 

 I had skinned it. They are smaller than our green heron, but 

 similar. 

 M. loNORNis MARTINICA (LiNN.). Purple Gallinule. 



I saw a few in the marshes at Barranquilla, and wounded one, 

 but failed to get it. Aud. B. of N. A. vol. 5, pi. 303. 

 15. HiMANTOPUS MEXiCANUS (MuLL.). Black-necked Stilt. 



From the train I saw several pairs of these birds wading in 



