226 HERONS AND BITTERNS 



finely speckled with grayish. Im. Similar, but without 'aigrette' plumes, 

 L., 29'OG; 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 parti-colored 

 specimens are known. 



Range. S. N. Am. Breeds from L. Calif, and Gulf of Mex. to Jamaica 

 and Guatemala; winters from s. Fla. southward; casual in Colo, and s. Ills. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, singly or in colonies, in bushes generally over 

 salt-water. Eggs, 2-4, pale, dull blue, 1'95 x 1'45. Date, Tampa Bay, Apl. 



This is now a rare bird on the coasts of southern Florida and it is 

 occasionally seen in the interior; the reddish phase prevailing. It is a 

 graceful, active fisher and instead of waiting for its prey to come within 

 spearing distance, pursues it rapidly through the shallow water. 



199. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis (Gosse). LOUISIANA HERON. 

 Ads. Upperparts dark bluish slate-color; back of head and upper neck with 

 elongated chestnut-rufous and white feathers ; back with pale brownish gray 

 'aigrette' plumes reaching to tail; lower back, rump and belly white; neck 

 bluish slate-color; throat white, an indistinct rufous line down the middle 

 of foreneck; legs blackish; base of bill and lores bluish. Im. Throat, and 

 an indistinct line down the foreneck, white; rest of head and neck brownish 

 rufous; upper back and wings bluish slate-color, more or less washed with 

 brownish rufous; no plumes; lower back, rump and belly white; breast with 

 more or less slaty streaks; legs yellow behind, blackish before; lower mandible 

 and lores orange; upper mandible black. L., 26'00; W., lO'OO; Tar., 3'70; 

 B., 3-90. 



Range. S. N. Am. Breeds from N. C., and the Gulf States to the West 

 Indies, Mex. (both coasts), and Cen. Am.; winters from S. C. southward: 

 casual in Ind., N. J., and L. I. 



Long Island, one record. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes or small trees over water. 

 Eggs, 3-4, pale, dull blue, 175 x 1'35. Date, s. Fla., Apl. 1 ; Santee, S. C., Apl. 20. 



The Louisiana Heron has fortunately never found favor with the 

 milliners and consequently is doubtless as abundant today as it ever 

 was; rookeries containing thousands of birds being not uncommon in 

 Florida. It flies with its neck less drawn in than do our other Herons, 

 and its sharply defined white abdomen is a further excellent field-mark. 

 It is very noisy and excitable when mating and nesting, and when 

 challenging a rival the neck-feathers are so erected and ruffled that the 

 bird seems to be wearing a feather boa. It is sometimes a slow, stealthy 

 feeder, and at others dashes for its prey. 



1908. CHAPMAN, F. M., Camps and Cruises, 143. 



200. Florida cserulea cserulea (Linn.). LITTLE BLUE HERON. Ads. 

 Head and neck maroon-chestnut; rest of plumage dark bluish slate-color; in 

 t^rscapulars and lower neck feathers lengthened and narrowly pointed; lores 

 blue; legs and feet black. Im. White, plumage sometimes more or less 

 washed with slaty; tips of the primaries always bluish slate-color; legs, feet 

 and lores greenish yellow. L., 22'00; W., 10'25; Tar., 370; B., 3'00. 



Remarks. Between the young and adult there is every stage of inter- 

 gradation of color, some specimens being irregularly marked with blue and 

 white in about equal proportions. Young birds are sometimes mistaken for 

 Snowy Herons, but can always be distinguished by the greenish yellow legs 

 and slaty tips of the primaries. They breed in the white plumage. 



