GREAT AMERICAN EGRET. 605 
nearly straight, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, nar- 
rowed and becoming rather acute towards the end, a groove from the 
base to two-thirds of the length, beneath which the sides are convex, 
the edges thin and sharp, with a notch close to the acute 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 di- 
rect, the tip acuminate. 
Head small, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender. 
Body slender and compressed. Feet very long, tibia elongated, its 
lower half bare, slender, covered anteriorly and laterally with hexago- 
nal scales, posteriorly with scutella ; tarsus elongated, compressed, co- 
vered anteriorly with numerous scutella, some of which are divided la- 
terally and posteriorly with angular scales. Toes of moderate length, 
rather slender, scutellate above, granulate beneath ; third toe consi- 
derably longer than the fourth, which exceeds the second; the first 
large; the claws of moderate length, rather strong, arched, compressed, 
rather acute, that ot the hind toe much larger, the inner edge of that 
of the third regularly pectinated. “ny 
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare. Plu- 
mage soft, blended ; the feathers oblong, with their filaments generally 
disunited, unless on the wings and tail. There is no crest on the head, 
but the feathers on its upper and hind part are slightly elongated ; 
those on the lower part of the neck anteriorly are elongated ; and from 
between the scapule arises a tuft of extremely long, slightly decurved 
feathers, which extend about ten inches beyond the end of the tail, 
and have the shaft slightly undulated, the filaments long and distant. 
The wing is of moderate length ; the primaries tapering but rounded, 
the second and third longest, the first slightly shorter than the fourth ; 
the 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 bright yellow, as is the bare space between it and the eye; iris 
pale yellow; feet and claws black. The plumage is pure white. 
Length to end of tail 37 inches, to end of claws 49, to end of wings 
574, to carpus 234, to end of dorsal plumes 57; bill along the ridge 44%, 
along the edge of lower mandible 575; wing from flexure 164; tail 64; 
extent of wings 55; bare part of tibia 34; tarsus 6,4; hind toe 12, 
