ARDBA PEAL1. 411 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Eastern Nortli America. Length, 23'75, stretch, 38-00; wing, 10'35; tail, 

 3-45; bill, 3'70; tarsus, 3'55. Longest specimen, 26'00; greatest extent of wing, 44'00; longest wing, 11'75; tail, 3'60; bill, 

 3-80; tarsus, 3'65. Shortest specimen, 21-50; smallest extent of wing, 35-00; shortest wing, HVOO; tail, 3'40; bill, 2'90; tar- 

 sus, 3'30. 



DF.SCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



AV.s/s, placed in trers or bushes, composed of sticks, loosely arranged. Eyyo, two to four in number, varying from 

 elliptical to oval in form, pale greenish-blue in color, unspotted. Dimensions from l'2<)x ISO to P25x 1'85. 



II. \1HTS. 



The Snowy arc among the most agile of all the Herons, rising very lightly and quick- 

 ly from the ground; then, when on the wing, moving quite swiftly. They may always be 

 distinguished from the White Heron, by this peculiarity; then their wings are moved more 

 rapidly than those of that species, for the wing-beats of the larger bird, are given quite 

 slowly but not as deliberately as are those of the Great White. The Snowy Herons are 

 distributed throughout the entire extent of Florida, but prefer the inland waters to those 

 of the coast. They breed in March, about the same time as the larger species, often in 

 company with them. When the nests of either of these Herons are approached, the birds 

 silently leave them and fly about, without uttering a cry, or settling on the neighboring 

 trees, quietly watch the proceedings. These little Herons assemble in large flocks, in win- 

 ter, and I think I never witnessed a finer sight, than that presented by a large number of 

 these beautiful birds, when flying swiftly through the air, and when they turn, which they 

 do with graceful ease, the sunlight glancing upon their plumage, reveals its snowy white- 

 ness to perfection. 



ABDEA PEALI. 



Peale's Egret. 

 Ardea Ptali BON, Syn.; 1828, 304. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Si>. CD. Form, robust. Size, medium. Tongue, very long, slender, and narrowing gradually to tip which Is point- 

 ed. Ilcail, neck, and breast, provided with slightly curled, lanceolate plumes and there are long, filamentous ones on the 

 back. Lower half of tibia, naked. 



COLOR. Adult. Pure snowy white throughout. Naked space in front of eyes, and basal half of bill, bright purple, 

 the latter, black terminally. Iris, yellow. Feet, bluish. Youny. Similar to the adult but lack the plumes. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the lanceolate feathers on head, neck, and breast, and pure white color as described. Constantly 

 resident in Southern and Middle Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurement of specimens from Florida. Length, 29-70; stretch, 42'00; wing, 14-25; tail, 4'70; bill, 3'95; 

 tarsus, 5'45. Longest specimen, 30-35; greatest extent of 'wing, 54"50; longest wing, I.V50; tail, 5'flO; bill, 4'25; tiirsus 

 5 75. Shortest specimen, 27'50; smallest extent of wing, 48'00; shortest wing, 13'00; tail, 4-00; bill, 3'60; tarsus, 4'90. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Neils, placed on trees and composed of sticks, somewhat loosely arranged. Eyys, two to four in number, varying 

 from elliptical to oval in form, pale bluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from 1-50x2-05 to 1 '55x2-25. 



\ HABITS. 



Nearly all the Herons, when in full plumage, are beautiful, but to my mind, the pres- 

 ent species surpasses them all; indeed, it would be difficult to find a more lovely bird than 

 a living Peale's Egret, -and no one who has seen a specimen in good plumage, will consid- 

 er this opinion exaggerated. I made my first acquaintance with these fine birds, on Indian 



