BLUE HERON. 65 
its lower half bare, very slender, covered all round with angular scales, 
of which the posterior are large ; tarsus elongated, slender, compressed, 
anteriorly covered with numerous broad scutella, laterally and behind 
with angular scales. Toes long, slender, with numerous broad scutella 
above, flattened and reticularly granulate beneath. Claws rather long, 
arched, compressed, acute, that of hind toe much larger and more curved, 
the inner edge of that of the third finely and regularly pectinate. 
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare. Plu- 
mage soft, thin, and blended. Feathers of the upper and hind part of 
the head very long, linear, with loose barbs; of the sides of the neck 
loose and inclined obliquely backwards, of its lower part much elonga- 
ted, narrow, and tapering to a point; of the middle of the back 
extremely long, linear, acuminate, their tips projecting about five 
inches beyond the tail. Wings long, and very broad ; primaries broad, 
tapering, and rounded, the first, second and third almost equal, the 
latter being only a twelfth of an inch longer; secondaries broad and 
rounded ; some of the inner only half an inch shorter than the longest 
primary, when the wing is closed. Tail very short, small, even, of twelve 
rather weak feathers. 
Bill ultramarine blue at the base, gradually shaded into black to- 
wards the point ; the bare space between it and the eye, as well as the 
edges of the eyelids, ultramarine. Iris pale yellow. Legs, tarsi, toes, 
and claws, black. Head and neck of a rich deep purple, inclining to 
vinaceous; the lower part of the neck and all the other parts deep 
greyish-blue, the edges of the feathers lighter. 
Length to end of tail 244 inches, to end of wings 25, to end of elon- 
gated dorsal feathers 26, to end of claws 302 ; wing from flexure ES 
tail 43%; extent of wings 42; bill along the ridge 3y4;, along the edge 
of lower mandible 4; bare part of tibia 234 ; tarsus 3, ; first toe 11. its 
claw 7%; middle toe 23, its claw 74. Weight 1 lb. 
The female is similar to the male, but smaller. Weight 11 oz. 
The young are at first sparely covered with yellowish-white down. 
When a fortnight old, the bill is yellow, with the tips greenish-black ; 
the feet greenish-yellow, the claws dusky, with the tips greyish-yellow. 
The general colour of the plumage is pure white, but the down which 
tips the feathers of the head is brownish-white; two of the alular feathers 
are tinged with dull bluish-grey, and the outer seven or eight pri- 
maries are broadly margined on both sides to the length of about an 
VOL. IV. E 
