654 REPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



cation that they build false nests and that the male assists in incubat- 

 ing. They rear two broods a year, Dr. Langdon thinks, as he found 

 incomplete sets early in July near Sandusky, 0. (J. C. S. N. H., Ill, 

 1880, p. 227.) 



Cory's Bittern, Botaurus neoxena Cory, has been taken in Ontario 

 and Michigan, and should be sought in Indiana. Its habits are similar 

 to those of this species and it frequents similar places. The following 

 is its description: 



Top of the head, back and tail, dark greenish-black, showing a 

 green gloss when held to the light; sides of the head and throat rufous- 

 chestnut; the feathers on the back of the neck showing greenish-black 

 tips; breast and under parts, nearly uniform rufous-chestnut, shading 

 into dull black on the side; wing coverts, dark rufous-chestnut; under- 

 wing coverts, paler chestnut; all the remiges entirely slaty, plumbeous; 

 under tail coverts, uniform dull black. Total length, 10.80; wing, 

 4.30; tarsus, 1.40; bill, 1.80. 



RANGE. Florida, Okeechobee region. In Florida it is called "Black 

 Bittern" to .distinguish it from the "Least Bittern," which is called 

 "Brown Bittern." 



SUBFAMILY ARDEINvE. HERONS AND EGRETS. 

 34. GENUS ARDEA LINNJEUS. 



a 1 . Bill shorter than tarsus. 



b l . Tarsus less than twice the length of middle toe without claw. 

 c 1 . Wing over 14.00. 



d l . Color chiefly bluish; wing over 17.00. Subgenus ARDEA. 

 e 1 . Top of head (sometimes entire head) white. 



A. wuerdemanni Baird. 65 

 2 . Top of head, including occipital plumes, black. 



A. herodias Linn. 66 



d 2 . Color white ; wing less than 17.00. Subgenus HERODIAS Boie. 

 c 2 . Wing under 11.00. A. egretta Gmel. 67 



f 1 . Color entirely white ; plumes of breeding season very long, curved 

 backward, with loose webs. . Subgenus GARZETTA Kaup. 



A. candidissima Gmel. 68 



/ 2 . Tips of primaries bluish; sometimes most of plumage bluish; 

 plumes of breeding season slender, with compact webs. Subgenus 

 FLORIDA Baird. A. cserulea Linn. 70 



a*. Bill not shorter than tarsus. 



g 1 . Wing more than 8.00. Subgenus HYDRANASSA Baird. 



A. tricolor ruficollis (Gosse) . 69 

 <jf 2 . Wing not more than 8.00. Subgenus BUTOROIDES Blyth. 



A. virescens Linn. 71 



