ARDEIDJih THE HERONS. 118* 



GENUS ARDEA LINNAEUS. 



Ardea Liss. 8. N. ed. 10. 1, 1758. 141. Type, by elimination. A. cinerta Lime. 



ANALYSIS OF SUBGENERA 



a 1 Oalmen decidedly shorter than tarsus, the latter more than one and a half times as long 



as the middle toe, without claw. 



It 1 Tarsus much less than twice as long as middle toe, without claw. 

 c l Wing more than 13 inches. 



d 1 Wing more than 17 inches. Adults with scapular plumes narrowly lanceolate, 

 with compact webs: head crested, the occiput, during pairing season, 

 with two or more long, slender, compactly webbed plumes; plumes of 



lower neck stiffened, narrowly lanceolate, or acicular Ardea. 



d 1 Wing less than 17 inches. Adults in nuptial plumage with the scapular 

 plumes excessively elongated, reaching far beyond the tail, their shafts 

 thick and stiffened, their webs decomposed; head without crest or 

 plumes, and feathers of lower neck (in American species) soft, broad, and 



not lengthened ; color, always wholly pure white Herodiaa. 



c* Wiag less than 11 inches. 



d 1 Adults with occipital, jugular, and scapular plumes greatly developed, with 

 much decomposed webs (occipital and jugular plumes with compact webs 

 in exotic species); the scapular plumes extending to or beyond end of 

 tail and recurved at tips; color of plumage always wholly pure white. 



Garzetta. 



P Adults with jugular and scapular plumes much elongated ; the former nar- 

 rowly lanceolate, with compact webs, the latter also narrow, but more 

 loosely webbed, and often extending far beyond the tail; color of plumage 

 varying from uniform dark slate-blue, with maroon-colored bead and 

 neck (in most adults), to pure white with only the tips of some primaries 



bluish (in young); adults sometimes mixed white and bluish Florida. 



6* Tarsus twice as long as middle toe, without claw. Adults with feathers of entire 

 head and neck, except throat and upper foreneck, elongated and narrowly 

 lanceolate, especially on occiput and lower foreneck; scapular plumes much 

 elongated, extending beyond end of tail, with shafts straight and stiffened, and 

 webs decomposed, but the hair-like flbrillae rather close together; color of plum- 

 age uniform bluish and reddish, uniform white, or pied Dichromanassa. 



a* Cuhnen equal to or longer than tarsus, the latter less than one and a half times as long 



as middle toe without claw. 



b 1 Wing more tlwji 8 inches ; culmen and tarsus more than S inches. Adults with an 

 occipital tuft of several moderately lengthened, lanceolate, compactly webbed 

 feathers; jugular plumes broadly lanceolate, with compact webs; scapular 

 plumes greatly elongated, extending to beyond end of tail, straight, hair-like; 

 color of plumage mixed grayish or bluish and white, never entirely white. 



Hydranassa. 



b* Wing not more than 8 inches; culmen and tarsus less than 3 inches. Adults with 

 scapular plumes and feathers on top of head moderately lengthened, lanceolate, 

 with compact webs; jugular plumes broad, soft, and blended; color of plumage 

 more or less metallic, in adults, on upper parts, grayish or rusty beneath; never 

 whlte~ .Butorides. 



