GRALLiE — GRUID.E AKDEA. 221 



THE WHITE-CRESTED HERON. 



Ardea candidissima. 



plate lxxxii. fig. 187. 



(CABINET OP THE LYCEUM.) 



Ardea candidissimn, Gmei.ik. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 7.. p. 120. pi 02, fig. 4 (adult)' 



A. id. Honaparte, Annul* L\ceum N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 3C5. Nuttall, Manual Orniih. Vol. 2, p. 49. 



A. id., Snowy Heron, Audubon, II. of A. Vol. G, p. 1GJ, pi. 374. Gikaud, Uirds of Long island, p. 293. 



Characteristics. Crested. Snowy white. Bill and legs black ; toes yellow. Young, 

 slightly crested, and without the dorsal train. Length, 24 '0. 



Description. Bill straight, tapering, 4 # 3 long. The feathers on the head form a loose 

 crest, 40 long : a similar tuft on the breast. The adult has a dorsal train of long silky re- 

 curved plumes, scarcely reaching beyond the tail, which is very short and slightly rounded, 

 of twelve feathers. 



Color. The bare space on the side of the head, and edges of the eye-lids, yellow. Ge- 

 neral plumage of a snowy whiteness; but in the specimen examined, a slight tinge of yellowish 

 at the origin of the dorsal train, and on the feathers of the thighs. 



Length, 22-0- 26-0. Alar extent, 360-380. 



This southern species extends its migrations as far east as Massachusetts, and is certainly 

 known to breed in New-Jersey, if not in this State. It is often seen on our coast, where it 

 is familiarly known as the White Poke. It feeds on fish, crabs, salamanders, and the seeds 

 of aquatic plants. Eggs pale bluish green. It appears on this coast in May, and leaves us 

 in September. It is a constant resident from Florida southwardly, and its geographical range 

 is comprised between the tropics and the 43d parallel of latitude. 



