KEY TO THE BIRDS. 



3. Long black crest, the two longest feathers of which are shed in 



the summer moult. Upper parts and tail bluish slate, below 

 black and white streaked, forehead and crown white. Bill 

 yellow and dusky; feet and legs dark. (Very large Heron, 

 often four feet long.) 



Great Blue Heron. See page 252. 



4. Head with lengthened crest. Above dark glossy green, sometimes 



with an iridescence. Edging of wing coverts reddish. Neck 

 a rich shade of chestnut, with purplish wash ; white streak on 

 the throat ; under parts whitish, shading to ash below. 



Green Heron. See page 253. 



5. Above either dull or greenish black ; tail, wings, and neck grayish. 



Throat and forehead whitish. Below livid white. Crest of 

 three long white feathers often rolled into one. Bill black ; 

 legs yellow. 



Black-crowned Night Heron. See page 254. 



H. OFF-SHORE BIRDS. 

 * Legs long. 



1. A tube-nosed swimmer. Bill black. Above sooty brown, blacken- 



ing on wings and tail; white rump. Long black legs, the 

 foot-webbing spotted with yellow. One of "Mother Carey's 

 chickens." 



Wilson's Petrel. See page 268. 



** Legs short. 



2. Bluish gray above, bill light yellow. White below. Black feet 



and tip to tail. 



Kittiwake Gull. See page 269. 



3. Above grayish blue or "gull-blue," l head and tail lighter; white 



below. Bill yellow, feet flesh colour. 



American Herring Gull. See page 270. 



4. Head and neck dark slate ; bill carmine. Back slate-coloured, 



divided from the head by the white of the neck. All under 

 parts white, also tail coverts. Legs and feet dull reddish. 



Laughing Gull. See page 270. 



6. Head and upper neck dark lead colour; bill black; back "gull- 



blue." Rump and tail white, also under parts. Wings white 

 and gull-blue. Legs and feet light red. 



Bonaparte's Gull. See page 271. 



6. Bill long, coral-red at base, black toward end, and tipped with 

 yellow. Upper head and back of neck black. Entire back 

 and wings light gray with a bluish wash. Tail coverts, most 



1 A peculiar shade of bluish gray. 

 304 



