74 LOUISIANA HERON. 



number of long narrow purple feathers, and under these seven 

 or eight pendent ones, of a pure white, and twice the length of 

 the former; upper part of the back and wings light slate; lower 

 part of the back and rump white, but concealed by a mass of 

 long unwebbed hair-like plumage, that falls over the tail and 

 tips of the wings, extending three inches beyond them; these 

 plumes are of a dirty purplish brown at the base, and lighten 

 towards the extremities to a pale cream colour; the tail is even 

 at the tip, rather longer than the wings, and of a fine slate; the 

 legs and naked thighs greenish yellow; middle claw pectinated; 

 whole lower parts pure white. Male and female alike in plu- 

 mage, both being crested. 



