ARDF.A LVDOV1CIANA. 413 



While I do not positively assert that ornithologists arc wrong in deciding that Pcale's 

 and the Reddish Egrets arc one species, I must say that I cannot, at present, believe that 

 (hey arc right in this declaration; simply, because my experience with these birds, tends 

 to show that the species are quite distinct. During my first season in Florida, although I 

 found Pcale's Egret very abundant on Indian River, I did not see a single Reddish, nor did 

 I ever find them at all common there; in fact, I have taken but one bird, the only speci- 

 men I ever saw, in this section, and this was two or three years after my first visit. I did 

 not find the red birtls at Miami, nor on the outer Keys, where the white ones were not un- 

 common. The first that I met with, were on Card's Sound, one of those peculiar bodies 

 of water, among the interior Keys, of which I have spoken. Here a flock of three flew 

 slowly past me, but I did not see any more on that trip, while Peale's Egrets were partic- 

 ularly abundant. On the contrary, while on the West coast of Florida, below Tampa Bay, 

 we found nothing but Reddish Egrets, and here they fairly swarmed, breeding in company 

 with other Herons, at John's Pass, early in April. I do not doubt but what the white 

 birds occur on the West coast, but they are certainly rare there. Such are the results of 

 my observations and they surely go far toward proving that these Egrets are both good spe- 

 cies. The Reddish- Egrets do not differ from Peale's in general habits; neither are migra- 

 tory, but wander some in winter. 



ARDEA LUDOVICIANA. 



Louisiana Heron. 



Ardea Ludoviciana WILS., Am. Orn., VIII; 18H, 13. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cn. Form, slender. Size, rather small. Tongue, long, and tapering gradually toward tip which in pointed. 

 Head and breast, furnished with lanceolate plumes and those of the back are long and filamentous. Bill, very long. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, ashy-blue tinged on the neck with deep chestnut-red. Occipital plumes and line down neck, 

 rufous and white. Throat, creamy. Pure white beneath. Iris, naked space in front of eye, legs, and base of bill, green- 

 ish, the latter dusky at tip. Youny. Similar to the adult, but lacks the plumes and are tinged with rufous above. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the comparatively small size, pure white color beneath and ashy-blue above. Distributed, in sum- 

 mer, from the Carolina.* to Key West; wintering in Florida. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 25-50; stretch, 35'30; wing, 10'50; tail,3'75; bill, 3-85; tar- 

 sus,3'7:j. I.on-'t -( specimen, 26'5U; greatest extent of wing, 38-50; longest wing, 1POO: tail. 4'ld; bill, 4'10; tarsus, 4'00. 

 Shortest specimen, 23 (10; smallest extent of wing, 33' 15; shortest wing, 10-00; tail, 3'50; bill, 3'75; tarsus, 3'50. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND KGGS. 



N'a/s, placed in trees or bushes, composed ofsticks loosely arranged. Eyys, from two to four in number, varying from 

 elliptical to oval in form, bluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from 1'SOx 1'75 to l'40x 1'80. 



HABITS. 



The Louisiana Herons are rather inclined to be solitary in habit, frequenting the shal- 

 low waters of the coast, in preference to the margins of the inland streams and lakes. They 

 are extrcmclv agile while fishing, running rapidly after their prey when it endeavors to 

 escape. They are also good flyers, rising quickly, and when on the wing, moving rapid- 

 ly, or will occasionally dart downward, something like a Tern or Gull. They are quite 

 unsuspicious, being, in fact, the tamest of all the Herons, for they may be approached quite 

 closely, even when they have a full view of the intruder. While breeding, they will often 



