34 



ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 



Hab. Warm-temperate and tropical North America, south to Guatemala ; in the United 

 States, apparently restricted to the Eastern Province, but in Mexico occurring on hoth coasts ; 

 north to Southern Illinois ; Jamaica ; Cuba. 



Sp. Char. Length, about 27.00-32.00 ; expanse, about 45.00-50.00 ; weight, about li lbs. 

 (Audbbo.n). Wing, 11.90-13.60; tail, 4.10-5.00; culmen, 3.30-4.00; depth of bill, .55-.70 ; 

 tarsus, 4.90-5.75 ; middle toe, 2.50-2.85 ; bare portion of tibia, 2.60-3.75. 

 unvaried. 



Colors uniform or 



\ 



Colored phase. 



Adult: Plumage in general uniform plumbeous, darker on the back, a little lighter beneath ; 

 entire head and neck rich vinaceous-cinnamon, ending abruptly below ; the penicillate tips of some 

 of the longer feathers, particularly on the occiput, lighter ; train similar to the back anteriorly, but 

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

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

 legs and feet ultramarine-blue, the scutellte and claws black (Audubon). 



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

 (in older individuals) on the occiput or jugnlum. Prevailing color dull bluish-ashy, tinged here 

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



A specimen from Mazatlan (No. 52,832. g Nat. Mus.) is the most richly-colored one we have 

 seen. In tliis the train and back ha\'e a very decided lilac-purple tinge, the former without any 

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

 occipital, and medial plumes of the most delicate light pinkish-vinaceous, deeper and more purplish 

 beneath the surface. No. 39,329 has the malar region on the right side mostly white ; there are 

 likewise a few white feathers over the lore on the left side, while the anterior part of the forehead 

 is distinctly pearl bluish. 



White 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 greenish-yellow " (Audubon). 



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



The evidence proving the specific identity of Ardca rufa, BoDD., and A. Pealei, Bo NAP., has 

 been discussed in full by Dr. Brewer in the Ainerican 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 a)x)Ve, or, as being perhaps more easy of access, a reprint of it by Mr. Ridg- 

 way, in his remarks upon the relation between Ardea occidentalis, Aud., and A. Wiirdemanni, 

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

 Interior, Washington, ymblished Feb 5, 1878), Vol. IV., No. 1, pp. 229-232. For the benefit of 

 those, however, who may not be able to consult either ])ublication, we will state briefly that in 



