674 



U. S. p. R, R. EXP. AND SURVEYS— ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



The female differs in having the green of the head and back replaced by purplish chestnut ; 

 the brownish yellow tints more hoary ; the feathers of the throat with a narrow central dnsky 

 streak. 



An allied. species in South America^ {A. erythromelas,) according to Bonaparte, has the back 

 purplish chestnut, instead of dark green. The European A. minuta differs in being larger ; the 

 upper wing coverts milk white, not brownish yellow ; the under wing coverts white, instead of 

 olivaceous yellow. 



List of specimens. 



BOTAURUS, Stephens. 



Botaurus, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XI, ii, 1819, 592. Type ^rdea stellaris, L. 



Ch. — Bill moderate, scarcely longer than the head. Bill outlines gently convex, gonys ascending. Tarsi very short, less 

 than the middle toe ; broadly scutellate. Inner lateral toe much longest. Claws all very long, acute, and nearly straight. 

 Tail of ten feathers . No pecuhar crest. Plumage loose, opaque, streaked. Sexes similar. 



But one species of this genus is found within the limits of the United States. 



BOTAUEUS LENTiaiNOSUS, Stephens. 

 Bittern; Stake-driver. 



^rdea stellaris, Var. Forster, Phil. Trans. LXII, 1772, 410. 



J3rdea stellaris, Var. (1, Botaurus freti-hudsonis, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 635. 



Ardea lentiginosa, Montagu, Orn. Diet. Suppl. 1813. — Jentns, Man. 191. — Aun. Syn. 1839, 263. Ib. Birds Araer. 



VI, 1843, 94 ; pi. 365.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 374. 

 Botaurus lentiginosus, Steph, Shaw's Gen. Zool. XI, 1819, 596. 

 Jlrdea {Botaurus) lentiginosa, Nctt. Man. II, 1834, 60. 

 Butor lentiginosus, Jardine, Br. Birds, III, 147. 

 Ardea minor, Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 35 ; pi. Ixv.— Bon. Obs. 1825, 186.— AuD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 296 ; 



pi. 337. 

 Botaurus minor, Bonap. List, 1838. — Ib. Consp. II, 1855, 136. — Gundlach, Cab. Journ. IV, 1856, 346. 

 Ardea mokoho, Vieillot, Diet. — Wagler, Syst. Av. Ardea, No. 29. • 



Sp. Ch.— Brownish yellow, finely mottled and varied with dark brown and brownish red. A broad black stripe on each side 

 the neck, starting behind the ear. Length, 26.50 ; wing, 11 .00 ; tarsus, 3.60 ; bill above, 2.75. 

 Hail. — Entire continent of North America. 



Bill short, scarcely longer than the head. Gonys ascending, nearly straight. Culmen curved 

 towards the tip. Tarsi short, less than the middle toe and claw, covered anteriorly for two- 

 thirds the circumference by a single series of scutellae, and behind by a double series. Claws all 



