3-20 SNOWY HERON. 



peck at you with great spirit, and are capable of inflicting a severe 

 wound. 



There is no difference between the sexes as to plumage, but the male 

 is somewhat larger. When in good condition, its flesh is excellent eating, 

 especially in early autumn, when it is generally very fat. Some may be seen 

 for sale in the markets of New Orleans and other southern cities. They 

 return southward from the Middle Districts early in October, but in the 

 Carolinas they remain until the first frosts, when they all depart for the 

 Floridas, where I found them during the whole winter in considerable 

 numbers, associating with the Blue Herons. 



Ardea candidissima, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 305. 

 Skowy Heron, Ardea candidissima, TVils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vii. p. 120. pi. 62. 

 fig. 4 Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 49. 



Adult Male in full spring plumage. Plate CCXLII. 



Bill longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point, 

 the mandibles nearly equal. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly 

 straight, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, narrowed to- 

 wards the end, a groove from the base to two-thirds of its length, beneath 

 which the sides are convex, the edges thin and sharp, with a slight notch 

 close to the very acuie tip. Nostrils basal, linear, longitudinal, with a 

 membrane above and behind. Lower mandible with the angle extremely 

 narrow and elongated, the dorsal line beyond it ascending and almost 

 straight, the edges sharp and slightly inflected, the tip acuminate. 



Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender. 

 Body slender and compressed. Feet very long ; tibia elongated, its lower 

 half bare, very slender, covered all round with angular scales, of which 

 the posterior are scutelliform ; tarsus elongated, slender, compressed, an- 

 teriorly covered with numerous scutella, laterally and behind with angu- 

 lar scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate above, re- 

 ticularly granulate beneath ; third toe much longer than second, which is 

 very little shorter than fourth, the hind toe much shorter but strong. 

 Claws rather small, arched, compressed, acute, that of hind toe much 

 larger, the inner edge of that of the third regularly pectinate. 



Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare, as is the 

 lower half of the tibia. Plumage soft and blended. Feathers of the up- 

 per and hind part of the head, very long, loose, decurved ; of the sides, 



