CRESTED PURPLE HERON» 
This elegant species has received no less than 
six specific names from the pen of Latham, on 
account of the changes it undergoes in arriving to 
maturity : in this state it measures nearly three 
feet in length : the occiput is garnished with 
elongated greenish black feathers, the base of the 
neck with purplish white ones, and the scapulars 
with subulated brilliant red-purple plumes : the 
top of the head and the occiput are black, glossed 
with green : the throat is white : the sides of the 
neck are of a clear red, with three longitudinal and 
narrow stripes of black ; the fore-part of the neck 
longitudinally spotted with red, black, and purple : 
the back, the wings, and the tail, are greyish red, 
with green reflections : the thighs and the abdo- 
men are red : the sides of the body and the breast 
are rich purple : the beak and the naked skin 
surrounding the eyes are yellow : the irides are 
orange-yellow : the soles of the feet, the hinder 
part of the tarsi, and the naked space above the 
knee, are yellow : the fore-part of the tarsi, and 
the scales of the toes, are brown-green. The young, 
before they attain the age of three years, want the 
crest, which is only indicated by a few elongated 
reddish feathers : they also want the long feathers 
at the base of the neck and on the scapulars : their 
forehead is black : the nape and cheeks are bright 
red : the throat is white : the fore-part of the neck 
is yellowish white, with numerous longitudinal 
black spots : the feathers of the back, the scapulars, 
the wings, and the tail, are grey-black, edged with 
bright red: the belly and thighs arc whitish: the 
