664 



U. S. p. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY GENEEAL EEPOET. 



The white of the throat is much concealed in its middle and inferior portion by blue edges of 

 the feathers, and in places is spotted with purplish. 



The bill in life is said to be brownish black above and on the sides below towards the point; 

 the rest yellow, as is the space round the eye. The iris bright red. Feet light yellowish green ; 

 the anterior scutellae dusky. 



A young bird differs in having the blue of the head and neck replaced by purplish rufous, 

 blotched with blue ; the wing coverts edged with the same rufous. Most of the bill appears to 

 be yellow ; the upper mandible dusky ; the tip black. 



There is no occasion to change Wilson's name for this bird, on account of its having been 

 employed by Linnaeus. The white Ardea ludoviciana is a synonym of Butorides virescens, a 

 bird of very different genus. 



List of specimens. 



GAEZETTA, Bonaparte. 



GarxtUa, Bonap. Consp. II, 1855, 118. Type .drdea garzetta, L. (whether of Kaup, 1899 .') 

 Ch. — Bill slender ; outlines nearly straight to near the tip, when they are about equally convex. Middle toe more than half the 

 tarsus. Tarsi broadly scutellate anteriorly. Tibia denuded for about one half. Outer toe longest Head with a lull occipital 

 crest of feathers having the webs decomposed, hair-like; feathers of lower part of throat similar. Middle of back with long 

 plumes reaching to the tail, recurving at tip. These plumes and the crest apparently permanent. Lower part of neck behitad, 

 bare of feathers. Colors, pure white in all ages. 



Of this genus but a single well-established species is found in the United States, a Chilian 

 one, (possibly occurring in California,) Ardea thula of Molina, (Hist. Nat. Chile, 207,) is larger ; 

 the tarsi shorter ; the bill yellow at the base instead of black. 



This genus is called Garzetta by Bonaparte, after Kaup of 1829. I have not the work of 

 Kaup at hand to know what species is his type, but suspect it to be Ardea alba, L. Without 

 Macgillivray's British Birds before me, I am unable to say whether his Erodius belongs to 

 this genus or to Herodias. 



