268 AEDEIDiE, IlEEONS. GEN. 228-34. 



decomposed feathers, and similar dorsal plumes, latter recurved. v,-hei:\ per- 

 fect; similar, but not recm-ved plumes on the lower ueck, which is bare 

 behind ; lores, eyes and toes yellow ; bill and legs black, former yellow at 

 base, latter yellow at the lower part behind. Plumage always entirely white. 

 Size of the little blue heron. S. States ; Gala. ; Middle States, in summer; 

 N. occasionally to New England ; abundant. Wils., vii, 120, pi. 62, f. 4 ; 

 NuTT.,ii, 49; Aud., vi, 163, pi. 374 ; Bd., 665. . . . candidissima. 

 *** Species under 3 feet long, of varied dark colors when adult, iu some cases 

 white when young. (Hydranassa, Florida and Butorides.) 



^-h! Louisiana Egret. Adult slaty-blue on the back and wings, mostly white 



' ' below and along the throat-line ; crest and most of the neck reddish-purple, 

 mixed below with slaty; the longer narrow feathers of the crest white; 

 lower back and rump Avhite, but concealed by the dull purplish- brown 

 feathers of the train, which Avhiten towards the end ; bill black and yellow ; 

 lores yellow ; legs yellowish-green, dusky in f]-ont. Young variously 

 different, but never white. Length about 24 (exclusive of the long train) ; 

 . wing 10-11 ; bill 4-5 ; tarsus 4; middle toe and claw 3. S. Atlantic and 

 Gulf States, chiefly maritime, very rarely N. to the Middle districts. A. 

 hidoviciava W11.S., viii, 13, pi. 64, f. 1; Nutt., ii, 51; Aud., vi, 156, pi. 



373; Bd., 663 leucogastea var. leucopkymna. 



. ->>' Reddish Egret. Adult grayish-blue, rather paler below, head and neck 



n lilac-brown, ends of the train yellowish; bill black on the terminal third, 

 the rest flesh-colored , like the lores ; iris white ; legs blue, the scales of the 

 tarsus blackish ; length about 30 ; wing 14-15 ; bill 4 ; tarsus 5J. Young 

 usually entirely white, for a year or two ; some individuals permanently so ; 

 bill as in the adult ; legs greenish, with yellowish soles ; in this state the bird 

 A. pealei Bonap., Am. Orn. iv, 96, pi. 26, f. 1 ; Nutt., ii, 49 ; Gambel, 

 Proc. Phila. Acad. 1848, 127 ; Bd., 661. Florida and Gulf States, strictly ; 

 maritime, abundant. Ardea rufescens Aud., vi, 139, pi. 371; .Demiegretta 

 rufaJiT)., 662 eufa. 



^ L^ki Little Blue Heron. Head of the adult with lengthened decomposed 

 ' feathers, those of the lower neck, and scapulars, elongate and lanceolate ; 

 no dorsal plumes ; neck bare behind below ; length about 24 ; wing 

 11-12; bill 3; tarsus 3J-4. Adult slaty-blue, becoming purplish on the 

 head and neck ; bill and loral space blue, shading to black at the end ; 

 eyes yellow ; legs black. Young pure white, but generally shoAving blue 

 traces, by which it is distinguished from the snowy heron, as well as by 

 the color of the Inll and feet, though at first the lees are greenish-blue 

 with yellowish traces. S. Atlantic and Gulf States, abundant; N. casually 

 to New England in summer. Wils., vii, 117, pi. 62, f. 3; Nutt., ii, 58; 



Aud., vi, 148, pi. 372; Bd., 671 cterulea. 



jj r'7 Green Heron. Adult in the breeding season Avith the crown, long soft 



' ' occipital crest, and lengthened narrow feathers of the back lustrous dark 

 green, sometimes with a bronzy iridescence, and on the back often with a 

 glaucous cast; wing coverts green, with conspicuous tawny- edgings ; neck 



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