224 
NEV-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
THE GREEN HERON. 
Ardea virescens. 
PLATE LXXX1I. FIG. 188. 
Ardea virescens, Linn^us, p. 238. Wilson. Am. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 97, pi. Cl, fig. 1. 
Green Heron. PENNANT, Arct. Zool. Vol. 2, p. 417. 
A. (Botaums) id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. V r ol 2, p. 307. 
Green Heron. Nuttall, M;in. Oin. Vol. 2, p. G3. Audubon, B. of A. Vol. G, p. 105, pi. 3G7. Giraud, Birds 
of Long island, p. 281. 
Characteristics. Crested. Crown and wing-coverts glossy green : neck and breast bright 
rufous; chin and throat whitish, striped or spotted with deep brown: 
tapering pointed feathers on the back. Young, less brilliant, and want¬ 
ing the elongated dorsal feathers. Length, 17'5. 
Description. Bill nearly straight, pointed, compressed and gently curved. Upper man¬ 
dible slightly notched near the tip. Nostrils basal, linear. Tibia moderately denuded above 
the joint. The naked space from the bill to the eyes, passes behind the eyes. Feathers of 
the hind head erectile, long and loosely webbed; those of the back long and pointed. Sca¬ 
pulars very large : second quill longest. 
Color. B.ll black above ; yellowish beneath : both mandibles tinged with yellow at the 
base. Legs and feet greenish yellow. The crest near the frontlet, green sh glossy black. 
Wing -coverts and tertials green, bordered with brownish or grey. Dorsal feathers hoary 
green, with white shafts. Quills blue-black, lighter on their outer webs. Flanks and abdo¬ 
men chcsnut or ashy brown. Hind part of the body deep green. 
Length, 17'0-18'0. Alar extent, 25 - 0. 
The Poke, Chalk-line, Fly-up-the-creek, or Sclnjte Poke as he was called by our Dutch 
progenitors, is a southern species, arriving in this State about the middle of April, and leaving 
us in October. It breeds in this Slate. Eggs bluish green. It prefers marshy situations, 
feeding on the smaller reptiles and fishes. It is common throughout the State, and, from 
some curious notions respecting its habits, is held in general contempt. Its geographical 
range extends from Mexico to the forty-fourth parallel. This species is arranged by Bonaparte 
under the genus Herodias of Boie. 
