224 NEW-YORK FAUNA MUDS. 



THE GREEN HERON. 

 Ardea virescens. 

 rlate lxxx1i. fic. 188. 



Ardea virrscens, LlNNiEUS, p. 238. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 97, pi 61, fig. 1. 



Greta Heron. Pennant, Arct. Znol. Vol 2, p. 417. 



A. (Botawus) id. Bonaparte. Ann. Lye. N. V. Vol 2, p. 307. 



Oreeii Heron. NuTTAbL, Man. Oin. Vol. 2, p. C3. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. 6, p. 105, pi. 307. GlRAUD, Bird* 



of Long island, p. 284. 



Characteristics. Crested. Crown and wing-coverts glossy green : neck and breast bright 

 rufous ; chin and throat whitish, striped or spotted with deep brown : 

 tapering pointed feathers on the back. Young, less brilliant, and want- 

 ing the elongated dorsal feathers. Length, 17" 5. 



Description. Bill nearly straight, pointed, compressed and gently curved. Upper man- 

 dible slightly notched near the tip. Nostrils basal, linear. Tibia moderately denuded above 

 the joint. The naked space from the bill to the eyes, passes behind the eyes. Feathers of 

 the hind head erectile, long and loosely webbed ; those of the back long and pointed. Sca- 

 pulars very large : second quill longest. 



Color. B;ll black above ; yellowish beneath : both mandibles tinged with yellow at the 

 base. Legs and feet greenish yellow. The crest near the frontlet, greenish glossy black. 

 Wing-coverts and tertials green, bordered with brownish or grey. Dorsal feathers hoary 

 green, with while shafts. Quills blue-black, lighter on their outer webs. Flanks and abdo- 

 men chesnut or ashy brown. Hind part of the body deep green. 



Length, 17-0- 18* 0. Alar extent, 25 '0. 



The Poke, Chalk-line, Fly-up-the-creek, or Schyte Poke as he was called by our Dutch 

 progenitors, is a southern species, arriving in this Slate about the middle of April, and leaving 

 us in October. It breeds in this Slate. Eggs bluish green. It prefers marshy situations, 

 feeding on the smaller reptiles and fishes. It is common throughout the State, and, from 

 some curious notions respecting its habits, is held in general contempt. Its geographical 

 range extends from Mexico to the forty-fourth parallel. This species is arranged by Bonaparte 

 under the genus Herodias of Boie, 



