LOUISIANA HERON. 141 



about equal ; secondaries broad and rounded, some of the inner as long 

 as the longest primaries, when the wing is closed. Tail very short, small, 

 slightly rounded, of twelve rather weak feathers. 



Bill brownish-black on the greater part of the upper mandible, and 

 on the sides of the lower mandible towards the point ; the rest yellow, as 

 is the bare space before and around the eye. Iris bright red. Feet light 

 yellowish-green, the anterior scutella dusky, as are the claws. The gene- 

 ral colour of the upper parts is hght purplish-blue -, the elongated fea- 

 thers of the head and hind neck above of a fine reddish-purple, as are 

 those of the lower part of the neck ; the six longest feathers of the head 

 white. The long loose feathers of the back dull purplish-yellow, paler 

 towards their extremities. Throat white, its lower part chestnut ; a hne 

 of white all the way down the fore part of the neck ; the longer feathers 

 of the fore part of the breast dusky blue on their inner webs. The 

 breast, abdomen, tibiae, and under wing-coverts, white ; the lower tail- 

 coverts tipped with blue. 



Length to end of the tail 27 inches, to end of wings 28, to end of 

 claws 34^ ; extent of wings 37 ; loose feathers from 4 to 5 inches beyond 

 the tail ; wing from flexure lOf ; tail 3^ ; bill along the back 4, along 

 the edges 5 ; bare part of tibia 2^ ; tarsus 4|, middle toe 2^, its claws ^. 

 Weight 1 lb. 



The Adult Female is precisely similar to the male. 



The Young, when newly hatched, are covered above with pale purplish- 

 grey down, which is of greater length on the head, as in other species. 



The young fully fledged have the neck and fore part of the back 

 light brownish-red, the throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part 

 of the back ; the quills, larger wing-coverts and tail, light purplish-blue. 

 The feathers of the head, neck and back are not yet elongated. The bill 

 nearly as in the adult, but the legs deep greenish-olive. 



After the first moult, the feathers of the head, neck and back, are a 

 little elongated, and begin to be tinged with the colours which they have 

 when the bird is full grown. The red of the neck is changed for tints of 

 blue and purple, as is that of the back, although remnants of it are still 

 seen. The fore part of the neck is white, mixed with brownish-red ; the 

 legs lighter. 



