ARDEIIXE — THE IIEUUNS — FLORIDA. 



43 



cxtrciiK'S. Bill sknck-r, acute, npiiri'cialily curved toward tlie tiii, tlie culnieu somewhat depressed 

 juf^l iiliove the anterior end of the nostril ; lower edge of the niamliliuUir rami slif,ditiy concave, 

 ilio ^'iiiivs nearly strai^'ht, hut ascending,' ; anterior jxiint of the mahir feathers reaching; just about 

 us far forward as that of the frontal fcatliers, and very far posterior to the posterior end of the 

 nostril ; anterior point of cliiii feathers almost directly beneath the anterior end of the nostril, and 

 ii little over two thirds the <listance from the nuddle of the eye to the point of the bill. Toes long, 

 ihc niiildle one two thirds, or more, as loii>,' as the tarsus, the hallux a little less than half its 

 kii.uili ; bare portion of tibia considerably less than the middle toe. Tarsal scutello) as in Ganetta 

 and lliriiilias. 



Nu])tial jilumes (occipital, jugular, and scapular) long, slenderly lanceolate, the webs rather 

 cdinpai't, especially tlio.se of the dorsal region ; those of the back reaching, when fully developed, 

 fur beyond the tail. 



Florida caerulea. 



THE UTTLE BLUE HERON. 



Ardea ctcruha, Catesby, Carolina, I, 1731, pi. 7t5 (blue adult). 



n.rnn hUudlrc dc C'mjennc, Wvvv. I'l. Kid. 1770-84, pi. 34!) (blue ad\dt). 



Anhacctridm, Linx. S. N. cd. 10, 1758, 143. no. 13 ('V Brown, Jam. 478 ; Catesby, I.e.), I. 1766, 



238, no. 17. — WiLs. Am. Oni. VII. 1813, 117, pi. 6-2. — Ni'tt. Man. II. 1834, 58. — Aun. 



Orn. Bing. IV. 1838, 58, pi. 307 ; Synop. 1839, 266 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 148, pi. 372. — CouEs, 



Key, 1S72, 268 ; Check List, 1873, no. 456. 

 Florida cwnilcn, Haiiu), Birds X. Am. 1858, 671 ; Cat. X. Am. 15. 1859, no. 490. — Ridow. Norn. 



X. Am. 1$. 1881, no. 493. — Covks, Check List, 2d cd. 1882, no. 662. 

 niKc Hirnn, var. A., LATir. Syuoi). HI. 1785, 79 (blue adult. Quotes I'l. Enl. 349). 

 Ardcd ricriilciccns, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1790, 690, no. 40 (based on the above). 

 Lc Civhkr bleu i) eoii brun, BUFK. Ois. VII. 399 (blue adult). 

 liliic Ifenm, Latu. .Synop. IH. 1785, 7S {([{wtea Ardca carnlea, Linn.). 



? Lilfle While lleron, var. B., Lath. .Synop. HI. 1785, 94 (.Mexico. Probably young white bird). 

 Ardm arde.fiacru, Li:ss. Traite, I. 1831, 575 (Cayenne. Individual in pied plumage). 

 Ihmlias Pomheli, BoXAf. Consp. II. 1855, 123 (blue adult). 



" Kijretla niivii," Oosse, Birds ,Fam. 1S47, 334 ; lUustr. B. Jam. pi. 90 (young white bird). 

 Ardm cwrulca, vnr. albu, l!i:i( iiEXow, .1. f. (1. July, 1877, 264 (white phase). 

 Arden earnlen, vnr. n/rinn/ms, Heiciienow, I.e. (intermediate, or pied, phase. Ex Ardca eijanopus, 



Gmel. S. X. 1. ii. 1788, 644). 

 Arden mcrieann ciiierea, Biass. Orn. V. 1760, 404 {intermediate phase), 

 Arden americana cincreit, Blilss. t.c. 406. 

 Arden cnnernphitrius hrn.iilieii.si.'t, BlMss. t.r. 479. 

 Ardea ehnbjbcn, Stei'IIEXs, Shaw's ticn. Zoul. XI. ii. 1819, 582. 



IIau. Warm-temperate eastern North America, the whole of the West Indies and Middle 

 America, and northern .South America ; north to Massachusetts, Illinois, Kansas, etc. ; south to 

 Xew (iranada and Guiana. 



Sp. Chah. Length, about 20.(M)-2.").(M> inches ; expanse, 40.(M)-42.(K) ; wing, 9.00-10.60 ; tail, 

 3.(i(»-4.7(l ; culmeii, 2. 7(^-3.30 ; depth <if bill, .4')-..-).-) ; tarsus, 3.15-4.00; middle toe, 2.35-2.60 ; 

 bare porticm of tibia, 2.(K)-2.ao. Weight, about 1 l-l(i ounces. 



JVliite phuse . 



Adult: Prevailing color white, with the ends of several outer primaries plumbeous, the plunuige 

 tinged here and there (in quantity varying with the individual) with delicate pale bluish pearl- 

 gray. Colors of the soft parts as in the blue adult. Yotoirj : Similar to the adult, but with the 

 plumes absent or but slightly develo]ied. Rill pale lilaceous, beconnng gradually black on ter- 

 minal thinl ; legs and feet uniform pea-green, lighter and brighter than in the blue phase ; iris 

 Xajiles yellow.i 



* Fresh colors of a specimen killed August 6, near Washington, D. C. 



