106 



EGBETS. 



southern 111. recorded from Cuba and Jamaica : now rare in 

 the U. S. Breeds in May. 



1*. CHANGING EGRET, D. R. MUTATA. Differs from 

 1 in having the plumage irregularly mixed with white. 

 Young, similar to 1 or possibly occasionally mottled with 

 white. Not rare on west coast of Andros, Bahamas, casual 

 in Fla. Breeds in May. ( See birds of Eastern North America, 

 Revised Edition, 1896. ) 



2. PEALE'S EGRET, D. PEALEI. Differs from 1 in be- 

 ing pure white throughout. Resident in southern Fla. 

 mainly the east coast, west along the Gulf coast to Texas, 

 Honduras and both coasts of Guatemala ; Andros and Inagua, 

 Bahamas; recorded from Cuba. Breeds in Feb. (Inagua); 



April and May (An- 

 dros, and Fla. ) . 

 e. J>amsel Egrets. 

 Hydranassa. 



Slender herons 

 with long, slender 

 bills and necks. Head 

 plumes, rather short^ 



Fig. 122. 



?SSi 



barbs, separated ; neck j 

 plumes lengthened and = 

 lanceolate; back 

 plumes, long, with sepa- I, B, e, 1. 1-6. 



rated barbs, soft and hair-like. Wing-beats, rapid, fig. 122. 

 1. LOUISIANA HERON, H. KUFICOLLIS. 25.50; bill, 

 3.75 ; above, ashy-blue tinged with chestnut-fed; occipital 

 plumes and line down neck in front rufous, and white; back 

 plumes, yellowish-ash; beneath, pure white; iris, rosy-red, 

 bill and space in front of eye, cobalt-blue, tip of former, black ; 

 feet, dark-plumbeous, fig. 122; in winter iris, bill and feet are 

 greenish, becoming yellow towards spring. Young, much 

 tinged with reddish on neck and wings. Resident in the Gulf 

 States, Mexico, Central America, Bahamas, and the West In- 

 dies ; casual northward to N. J. and Ind. Breeds in May, 

 placing its nests in low trees. Common and u^nspioious. 

 Solitary when not mating. 



