298 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



and joyousness resembling, but greatly excelling, that of the skylark, 

 "singing at heaven's gate," the notes issuing in a continuous torrent; 

 the voice so brilliant and infinitely varied, that, if rivalry and emulation 

 have as large a place in feathered breasts as some imagine, all that 

 hear this surpassing melody might well languish ever after in silent 

 despair." However, enough has been said to prove that South Amer- 

 ica offers a fertile field for the student who desires to make original 

 investigations in the noble science of ornithology. 



GREAT BLUE HERON. 



A. O- V. Na. 194. (Ardea herodias ) 



RANGE. 



Breeds in North America from the Gulf to the Arctic regions; win- 

 ters in the southern half of the United States and southwards. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length about 45 inches; extent apout 6 feet. Eye yellow, bill and 

 bare space in front of eye, yellowish; legs blackish. Crown, middle 

 line of the underparts, and under tail coverts, white ; neck gray more 

 or less tinged with brownish ; back of head and the long plumes grow- 

 ing therefrom black ; line down the front [of the neck streaked with 

 black and brownish ; long flowing white plumes from the breast; back, 

 wing coverts and tail grayish, rest of wing blackish ; sides of breast jet 

 black ; front edge of wing and the tibia rich chestnut. Young : No 

 plumes from beck of head ; whole crown blackish ; plumes from the 

 breast very short or lacking ; little or no black on the sides and the 

 whole underparts with a streaked appearance. 



NORTHWEST COAST HERON. 



A. O. U. No. 194 a. (Ardea herodias fannini-) 



RANGE. 



Pacific Coast of North America from Vancouver Island north to 

 southern Alaska. Like the majority of other birds in this very humid 

 region, teis Aeron is very much darker than the common Blue Heron. 



WARD HERON. 



A. O. U- NO. 194 b. (Ardea herodias wardi.) 



RANGE. 



Florida. This subspecies is very similar to the Great Blue Heron, 

 but the neck is usually darker and the underparts whiter and the whole 

 bird averages slightly larger. 



