412 REDDISH EGRET. 



River, where they are as common as anywhere in the State, excepting, perhaps, on the 

 Keys. Just north- of Haulover Canal, between Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon, is a 

 series of hummocks, above which are low marshes that contain a few fresh water ponds. 

 Numerous wild mammals have resorted to these pools, from time immemorial, to satisfy 

 their thirst; so that the ground, for some distance around their margins, is destitute of veg- 

 etation, and spoors lead out from them in all directions. Near these denuded belts, are 

 bushes, and by creeping up behind them, one has an uninterrupted view of the entire mar- 

 gin which surrounds the water. I never approached one of these places, but what it was 

 full of Herons of several species, and it was here, that I secured my first Peale's Egret; 

 and I afterward found that this locality was a regular resort for them. They generally 

 came pouring in from the southward, in loose, straggling flocks, during the morning, and 

 departed in the same direction, when disturbed or at night; but I never found them breed- 

 ing on Indian River, although I searched carefully for their heronries. A few years later, 

 however, I discovered the strong-hold of this species, and secured not only the eggs, but 

 also the young in all stages. This was among the interior keys, where I found fresh eggs 

 as late as the twentieth of April; and the nests were built on low mangroves which over- 

 hung the water. Peale's Egret does not appear to be migratory, but merely wanders about 

 during winter. 



ARDEA Rt/FA. 

 Reddish Egret. 



Ardea rufa BODD., Tabl. PI. Enl.; 1784. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. Cn. Form, robust. Size, medium. Tongue, long, slender, and tapering gradually to the tip which is pointed. 

 Head, neck and breast, provided with lanceolate plumes, and those on back are long and filamentous. Ilalf of tibia, naked. 

 COLOB. Adult. Dark bluish-ah throughout, with head and neck reddish, tinged with violet. Naked space about 

 head and basal half of bill, bright purple, while the remainder of latter and feet are black. Iris, yellow. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the reddish neck and dark bluish-ash color us described. Constantly resident throughout Southern and Mid- 

 dle Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 29-50; stretch, 47'25; wing, 13'25; tail, 4'50; bill, 4 25; tar- 

 sus, 5-50. Longest specimen, SO'OO; greatest extent of wing, 49'25; longest wing, 13'75; tail, 5 00; bill, 4'50; tarsus, G'OO. 

 Shortest specimen, 29-00; smallest extent of wing, 44'50; shortest wing, 12-50; tail, 4'00; bill, 3'80; tarsus, 5'00. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in trees, composed of sticks loosely arranged. Eygs, two to four in number, rather elliptical in form, 

 light bluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from l'40x 1'85 to I 4 50x2'00. 



HABITS. 



Audubon considered this species, which had hitherto been regarded as distinct, as the 

 young of Peale's Egret, but Prof. Baird, in the Birds of North America, having the un- 

 doubted young of the Reddish Egret at hand, re-described it as a separate species; but of 

 late, writers are again inclined to regard these two birds as one, affirming that the individ- 

 uals are either red or white, when hatched, and remain so through their entire lives. Now 

 this hypothesis rests upon the fact, that one or two ornithologists have found the young of 

 different colors, in the same nests, but as I have already related, under the head of Flori- 

 da Heron, this proves nothing, unless the young were very small. 



