34 



ALTRICIAL nUALLATOIlES - HEUODIONKS. 



Hah. Warm-temperate and tropical North America, Mouth to (hiateiimla ; in the United 

 States, apparently restricted to the Ka.-<tern rrovince, but in Mexico oceurrinK on both cottsti* ; 

 north to Southern Illinois ; Jamaica ; Cuba. 



Si'. (.'HAU. Length, about 27.(K)-;J2.(K) ; e.xpanse, about 45,(M>-50.(X) ; weight, about 1^ lb». 

 (Audubon). Wing, il.!X)-13.«0 ; tail, 4.i(>-r).m); culmen, 3.:K>-4.0(I; dq.tli of bill, .M-.TO; 

 t^u-sua, 4.!K)-5.75 ; middle toe, 2.5l>-2.S5 ; bare portion of tibia, 2.ti(»-:j.75. Colors uuiforu or 

 unvaried. 



Colored phase. 



Adult: Plumage in general uniform plumljeous, darker on the back, a little li^'hter beneath ; 

 entire bead and neck rich vinaceous-cinnamon, endinj^ alirujUly below ; the peiiicillate tips of some 

 of the longer feathers, particularly on the occiput, lighter ; train similar to the buck anteriorh', but 

 pas.sing into a more brownish tint towards the end, the tips sometimes whitish. Terminal half of 

 the bill black ; basal half, including the lores and eyelids, pale tlesh-color ; iris yellow or white ; 

 legs and feet ultramarine-blue, the scutellio and elaw.s black (Audubon). 



Younij : No train on the back, and no lanceolate feathers on head or neck, except sometimes 

 (in older individuals) on the occiput orjugidum. Prevailing color uuU bluish-ashy, tinged here 

 and there with reddish-cinnamon, principallv on the throat and jugulum. 



A specimen from Mazatlan (No. 02,832. $ Nat. Mus.) is the most richly-colored one we hove 

 seen. In this the train and back have a very decided lilac-])urple tinge, the former without any 

 trace of the usual brownish cast, and the tips of the longer jdumes scarcely whitish. The jugular, 

 occijiital, and medial plumes of the most delicate light pinkish-vinaceous, deejier and more purplish 

 beneath the surface. No. 39,320 has the malar region on the light side mostly white ; there are 

 likewise a few white feathera over the lore on the left side, while the anterior i)art of the forehead 

 is distinctly pearl bluish. 



JFhite phase. 



Adult : Plumage entirely pure white, the jdumes exactly as in the adult of the colored phase. 

 Iris white ; color of bill, lores, and eyelids in life also similar, but legs and feet " dark olive-green, 

 the soles greeni.sh-yellow " (Audubon). 



Young: Entirely pure white, and destitute of the plumes and train of the adult. 

 The evidence proving the specific identity of Ardea ritft, Bodd., and A. Pculei, BoNAP., has 

 been discussed in full by Dr. Brewer in the American Sportsman (West Meriden, Conn.) for Feb. 6, 

 1875, 294. This matter being far too complicated for discussion here, the reader is referred to Dr. 

 Brewer's article, as above, or, as being perhaps more ea.sy of access, a rei)rint of it by Mr. Ridg- 

 way, in his remarks upon the relation between Ardea occidentalis, Aud., ami .1. Wilrdemanni, 

 Baird, in the Bulletin of the U. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey of the Territories (Department of the 

 Interior, Washington, published Feb 5, 1878), Vol. IV., No. 1, i>p. 229-232. For the benefit of 

 those, however, who may not be able to consult either publicntion, we will state brieHy that in 



