ABDEIDJE — AIWEIN^ : HER ONS. 



661 



Toes comparatively short, the middle little more than half the tarsus. Adult with feathers 

 of the head and neck lengthened, lanceolate, with well-defined edges ; an occipital crest of 

 several long plumes, and splendid dorsal train of decomposed, fringe-Uke feathers depending 

 hcyond the tail. Dichromatism not known. 

 «60. M. tri'color. (Lat. frJcoZor, three-colored.) Louisiana Egret. "Lady of the Waters." 

 Adult : Slaty-hlue on the back and wings, mostly white below and along the throat-hne ; crest 

 and most of the neck reddish-purple, mixed heh)W with slaty; the longer narrow featliers 

 of the crest white ; lower back and rump white, but concealed by the dull purplish-brown feath- 

 ers of the train, which whiten towards the end. Bill black and yellow ; lores yellow ; legs 

 yellowish-green, dusky in front. Iris red. Young variously different, but never white; 

 lacking the long occipital plumes and dorsal train; neck and back bright brownish - red ; 

 rump, throat-line and under parts white ; quills and tail pale purplish-blue ; legs dusky- 

 greenish. Length 24.00-37-00 (exclusive of the long train) ; extent 37.00-39.00 ; wing 10.00- 

 11.00; tail 3..50 ; bill 4.00-3.00; tibia3 bare 2.25 ; tarsus 4.00; middle toe and claw 3.00. S. 

 Atlantic and Gulf States, chiefly maritime, very rarely N. to the Middle districts; S. in tropical 

 Am. Resident along our southern coasts. Breeds in ctunmuuities like other herons. Nest and 

 eggs scarcely distinguishable from those of the snowy heron; eggs rather less elliptical, 

 usually 4 in number, averaging 1.78 X 1-30. 



261. DICHROMANAS'SA. (Gr. Sir (lis, twice; XP"^!^") chroma, color; and avaa-a-a; alluding 

 to the dichromatism of D. rufa.) Dichroic Egrets. Of medium size ; length about two and 

 a half feet. Bill slender, much as in the last, but shorter than the very long tarsus, which 

 is about twice as long as the middle toe and claw. Toes extremely short (for this family). 

 Feathers of head and neck elongate, lance-hnear and stiffish, distinct ; the longest forming 

 occipital and jugular tufts. A dorsal train of long decomposed fastigiate feathers, with stifi- 

 ened shafts. Dichromatic ; pure white or colored ; in latter state, without the white throat- 

 line of most herons. 



661. D. ru'fa. (Lat. nz/a, reddish.) Reddish Egret. Peale's Egret. In the colored phase : 

 Adult grayish-blue, rather paler below ; no white throat-line ; head and neck lilac-ljro-viii ; 

 ends of the train yellowish. Bill black on the terminal third, the rest ilesh-colored, like the 

 lores ; iris white ; legs blue, the scales of the tarsus blackish. In the white phase : Plum- 

 age entirely pure white. Bill, lores, and eyes as before ; legs dark greenish, the soles 

 yellowish; in which state the bird is "Peale's Egret," long held for a distinct species, then 

 long decided to be the young. Length 28.00-31.00; extent about 46.00; wing 12.50-14.50; 

 tail 4.50; bill 4.00; tibiae bare 4.00; tarsus 5.50-6.00 ; middle toe and claw 3.00. Gulf 

 States strictly ; maritime ; resident, abundant. Nests in communities, with other species, 

 upon low bushes, sometimes on the ground; eggs 3-4, of usual shape and color, from 1.90 X 

 1.48 to 2.12 X 1-55, averaging 2.00 X 1.50. 



262. FLO'RIDA. (Named for the State.) Blue and White Herons. Of small size ; lengtli 

 about 2 feet. Bill slender, very acute ; culmen gently curved from near base ; under outline 

 straight or slightly concave; about as long as tarsus. Head of adult with lengthened de- 

 composed feathers; those of lower neck, and the scapulars, lengthened and linear-lanceolate, 

 but compact-webbed ; no dorsal train of fringed feathers. Neck bare behind below. Di- 

 chromatic ; color blue or white, or both. 



662. F. coeru'lea. (Lat. cceruka, blue.) Little Blue Heron. Little White Heron (not 

 to be confused with Little White Egret). In the colored phase : Slaty-blue, or dark grayish- 

 blue, becoming purplish-red or maroon-colored on the neck and head. Bill and loral space 

 blue, shading to black toward the end ; legs and feet black ; eyes yellow. Length about 

 24.00; extent 40.00-42.00; wing about 11.50; tail 4.25; biU 3.00-3.40; tarsus Ibout the 

 same, rather more ; tibite bare 2.00. In one phase, entirely white ; but generally showing 

 traces of blue. Pure white birds require a second glance to distinguis'i them from iuiiuature 



