ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — GARZETTA. 



29 



too, 2.20-3.20; hare portion of tibin, 1.70-2.75 ; weif^ht, about 10-14 ounces. Color entirely 

 nure white, at all ages and seasons. Bill black, the basal portion of the lower niantlible (some- 

 times one-half) yellow, or light colored ; lores, iris, and eyelids, yellow ; tibiie and tarsi black, 

 the lower posterior portion of the latter, with the toes, yellow ; claws blackish. 



Nuptial plumes slender shafted and loose fibred, those of the back reaching to or slightly 

 bevoiid the end of the tail, and, normtJly, recurved terminally ; those of the occiput some- 

 times exceeding the bill in length ; those of the jugulum slightly less developed. In the young 

 tliese are all absent, except on the occiput, where they are but slightly developed ; in the 

 adults the occipital plumes appear to be permanent, the others assumed only during the breed- 

 iu'' season. 





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In this extensively distributed species there is a wide range of variation in size, and, to a less 

 extent, in proportions ; specimens from the Pacific coast of California and Mexico averaging con- 

 siderably larger than those from the eastern United States, while those from northeastern South 

 America are still smaller than the latter. There is not a suiHcient amount of material avail- 

 able to determine whether this variation is strictly geographical, or whether other difterences 

 constantly accompany these variations. It seems to be a general rule among the birds of this 

 family to vary in the same way, however. 



As a rule, specimens from Losver California average a little larger, and those from Demerara 

 considerably smaller, than examples from otlier localities. Examjjles from Chili are intermediate 

 in size l)et«^.,n Demerara specimens and others from the etistern United States, In the full dress, 

 the bill is deep black, witli the extreme base and the lores yell(jw ; the tarsus deep black, the 

 toes yellowish (bright yeUow or orange in life), in more or less marked contrast. Winter speci- 

 mens, however, even if possessing the plumes, have more or less of the basal portion of the lower 

 mandilile yellow, but are not otherwise obviously different. Among individuals, even from the 

 same locality, there is a great range of variation in size and proportions ; there is also a con- 

 siderable individual variation in the color of the feet, the yellow being as a rule confined to 

 the toes, but sometimes occupying a greater or less extent of the lower part (if the tarsus. 



Between specimens of tlie same stage from the eastern United States, tiie West Indies, Lower 

 California, Demerara, Chili, and Brazil, we can detect no differences other than those of an indi- 

 vidual nature except the very slight geographical one of size, alluded to above.^ 



The Snowy Egret is one of the most abundant, as well as one of the most widely- 

 distributed, of its family. It is found on both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, 

 wimdering on both shores several liundred miles farther north than it is known to 

 breed. On the Atlantic a few are supposed to be summer residents as far north 

 as Long Island. From thenee southward it is found along the entire Gulf coast, 

 and the shores of both oceans, throughout a very large extent of South America, 



' Since the above was written we linvn noticed very nearly the extremes of size in a series of these 

 birds from Florida, collected at the same place and at the same time. 



