ARDEA WLKDF.MANNI. 407 







breeding near. In the North, where the birds breed in May, the nests are usually placed 

 in high trees, but in the hcnmry of which I have been speaking, the birds often built in 

 low hushes, and 1 have even seen the nests on the ground. The cry of the Great Blue 

 Heron is loud and harsh, and is more often repeated at night than at any other time, for 

 this species is partly nocturnal and often fishes during the hours of darkness. These Her- 

 ons are migratory, passing southward in autumn, and although none winter as far north 

 as New England, they often remain here until late in November. 



ARDEA WURDEMANNI. 



Florida Heron. 



Ardea Wurdcmanni BAIRD, Birds N. A.; 1858, 669. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cu. Form, robust. Size, large. Tongue, very long, slender, and narrowing gradually to tip which is pointed. 

 Head, neck, and breast, provided with long. lanceolate plumes. Lower half of tibia, naked. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, bluish-ash, becoming lighter on neck and scapularies, and darkest on primaries. Throat, 

 white, centrally streaked with black and rufous. Top of head, white, edged on the forehead with black. White beneath, 

 stivaknl on Mill 1 " with black. Tibia and edge of wing, ashy-chestnut. Naked space about head, greenish-brown. Iris and 

 bill, yellow. Feet, brown. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known from the preceding species by the naked tibia, white top to head, black forehead, and white under parts, and 

 from all others, by the large size and colors as described. Constantly resident on the Florida Keys. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 4'J'SO; stretch, 74'50; wing, 20'50; tail, 7'75; bill, 6-50; 

 tarsus, 8"i~>. Longest specimen, SO'OO; greatest extent of wing, 75'00; longest wing, 21'00; tail, 8-00; bill, 7'00; tarsus, 

 8-50. Shortest specimen, 48'00; smallest extent of wing, 74'00; shortest wing, 20-00; tail, 7'50; bill, 5'95; tarsus, 7 -05. 



DESCRIPflON OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed on trees and composed of sticks, somewhat loosely arranged. Kffffs, two or three in number, varying 

 from elliptical to oval in form, pale bluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from I'80x2'60 to r85xH'90. 



UABITS. 



The Florida Herons have long been a puzzle to ornithologists, but that such a species 

 exists, is now proved beyond a doubt; though they are far from being common and are, I 

 believe, restricted to the Florida Keys, or at best, are mere stragglers on the mainland; 

 and I do not think that a well authenticated specimen has ever been taken there, those 

 which are considered Xhis species, being merely Great Blue Herons, with dark streaks on 

 the forehead; for, at least, two instances of this kind have come under my notice. Some 

 writers on the subject are inclined to dispose of the Florida Herons, by considering them 

 merely a plumage of the Great White, but I greatly fear that such conclusions rest too 

 much upon purely theoretical grounds. It is true, that it has been alleged, that birds 

 of both species have been found in one nest, and without doubt, this is a fact; yet it proves 

 nothing, unless, indeed, the nestlings were too small to go about much; for any one who is 

 familiar with Florida heronries, knows that the young birds leave the nest almost as soon 

 as fledged, and walk over the branches; and if suddenly surprised, will squat in the near- 

 est nest. I was once on an island, during the last week in April, which was covered with 

 a (ieiist; growth of high mangroves and Imttonwood, on which Great Blue Herons, Florida, 

 and Great White were breeding; but I did not find the young mixed at all, simply because 

 they were then too small to move about, but this might not have been the case two weeks 



