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SNOWY HERON. 



little white egret. small white heron. 



Ardea candidissima. 



Char. Plumage pure white ; crest long, with numerous elongated 

 hair-like plumes extending down the back of the neck; plumes on the 

 breast and back long and hair-like, those of the back reaching to the end 

 of the tail or beyond, and recurved at the tips. (These plumes are worn 

 only during the nesting season, and are not seen on young birds.) Bill 

 black, yellow at the base; legs black, feet yellow. Length 20 to 27 

 inches. 



Nest. With a community ; placed usually on a low cedar or willow, — 

 a mere platform of dry twigs. 



Eggs. 2-5 (usually 4); greenish blue : 1.85 X 1.25. 



This elegant Heron, so nearly related to the little Egret of 

 Europe, inhabits the marshes and swamps of the sea-coast 

 nearly from the isthmus of Darien to the estuary of the St. 

 Lawrence, generally omitting, however, the maritime range of 



