66 BLUE HERON. 
inch and a half with the same colour of a deeper tint, the extreme tip. 
-white. 
When fully fledged, the bare parts at the base of the bill, and the 
basal half of the upper mandible, are light greenish-blue, the rest black ; 
the lower mandible yellow, with a patch of black, an inch and a quarter 
in length on each side at the end. Legs, tarsi, and toes greenish-blue, 
the sides yellowish; claws dusky. The feathers of the head are 
slightly elongated ; those of the back are also elongated, but much 
broader and shorter than in the adult. The feathers on the upper 
part of the head are of a faint bluish-grey; and the alular feathers 
and eight outer primaries are tinged with the same colour. At 
this period, the length to the end of the tail is 22 inches, to end of 
claws 283; bill along the ridge 27; wing from flexure 11; tail 4,%. 
In November, when the moult is advanced. The bill is black, 
dull blue at the base. The feet are nearly black, as are the claws. 
The occipital feathers are now two inches and a half in length, and 
some of the dorsal feathers extend as far as the tips of the wings ; those 
of the lower part of the neck have also a length of about three inches. 
The general colour of the plumage is white; the upper part of the 
head, the hind neck, back, anterior edge of the wing, and outer pri- 
maries at the end, of a faint bluish-grey tint; some of the elongated 
feathers of the back darker. 
Length to end of tail 22 inches; to end of claws 294; bill 3; 
wing from flexure 114. 
A year old. Bill nearly as in the adult; feet bluish-black, the 
plumage is white, with the upper parts pale greyish-blue as in Novem- 
ber, but the whole interspersed with numerous feathers of a deep 
greyish-blue, similar to that of the adult; the primaries and tail being 
still white. 
Length to end of tail 23; ; extent of wings 323; bill 33. Weight 
9 oz. 
At the age of a year the bird propagates, so that individuals in 
the white, mottled, or blue plumage, may be seen breeding together. 
When only a few weeks old, the serrature of the claw of the mid- 
dle toe is scarcely perceptible, exhibiting merely faint indications of 
points upon a very slight margin. This margin enlarges, and when 
the bird is completely fledged the serratures are perfectly formed. 
