HERONS AND BITTERNS. 



subject. It is a blot on Florida's history. The subject will be found 

 fully treated by W. E. D. Scott in The Auk, iv, 1887, p. 135. 



197. Ardea candidissima Gmel. SNOWY HERON; SNOWY EGRET 

 Ad. in breeding plumage. Entire plumage pure white ; about fifty recurved 

 "aigrette" plumes grow from the interscapular region and reach to or just 

 heyond the end of the tail ; legs black, feet yellow, bill black, yellow at the 

 base ; lores orange-yellow. Ad. after the breeding season and Im. Without 

 the interscapular plumes. L., 24-00 ; W., 9'75 ; Tar., 3-80 ; B., 3-20. 



Range. Tropical and temperate America ; breeds as far north as southern 

 Illinois and Long Island ; after the breeding season sometimes strays north- 

 ward as far as Ontario and Maine. 



Washington, casual ; irregular in fall. Long Island, rare S. E., Apl. to 

 Sept. Sing Sing, A. V. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes over water. Eggs, three 

 to five, pale, dull blue, 1-80 x 1.20. 



The " curse of beauty " has numbered the days of this the most 

 dainty and graceful of Herons. Twenty years ago it was abundant in 

 the South, now it is the rarest of its family. The delicate "aigrettes" 

 which it donned as a nuptial dress were its death warrant. Woman 

 demanded from the bird its wedding plumes, and man has supplied 

 the demand. The Florida Herons have gone, and now he is pursuing 

 the helpless birds to the uttermost parts of the earth. Mercilessly 

 they are shot down at their roosts or nesting grounds, the coveted 

 feathers are stripped from their backs, the carcasses are left to rot, 

 while the young in the nest above are starving. But then, you know, 

 the little bunch of aigrettes in yonder jaunty bonnet is " so pretty," 

 "so becoming! " 



198. Ardea rufescens Gmel. REDDISH EGRET. Ad., dark phase. 

 Head and neck rufous-chestnut, glossed with vinaceous ; rest of the plumage 

 dark bluish slate-color; about thirty "aigrette" plumes grow from the inter- 

 scapular region and reach beyond the tail ; legs and feet black. Im. Simi- 

 lar, but without the " aigrette " plumes. White phase. Similar in size and 

 form, but entire plumage white, except the tips of the primaries, which are 

 sometimes very finely speckled with grayish. Im. Similar, but without the 

 " aigrette " plumes. L., 29-00 ; W., 12-50 ; Tar., 5-40 ; B., 3-60. 



Remarks. The two color phases of this bird were supposed to represent 

 two species, the white phase being called Ardea pealei Bonap. They have, 

 however, been found mated together, and intermediates or party-colored 

 specimens are known. 



Range. West Indies and Central America north to coasts of the Gulf 

 States; casually southern Illinois. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes generally over water. 

 Eggs, two to four, pale, dull blue, 1-95 x 1-45. 



This is, or was a few years ago, a not uncommon species on the 

 coasts of southern Florida, but it is unknown in the interior. It is 



