662 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS.— HERODIONES—HERODII. 



Gwmetta camMdissima, as they are of the same size, and not strikingly different in form) 

 notice lores and basal half of bill greenish- blue, the rest blackish; most of lower mandible 

 yellowish ; legs greenish-blue, with yellow traces, or bluish-black ; the snowy heron has no 

 hhdshmess about the soft parts. S. Atlantic and Grulf States, resident, abundant; N. in 

 summer often to the Middle States, casually to New England. Nesting as usual ; eggs 3-4, 

 1.75 X 1.25, of usual shape and color. 



263. BTJTORI'DBS. (Lat. butor, a bittern; Gr. etSos, eidos, resemblance.) GtKBEN Hekons. 

 Size small ; length one and a half feet. Bill moderate, longer than tarsus, with gently convex 

 culmen and gonys. Legs short; tibite Utile denuded; tarsus scarcely or not longer than 

 middle toe and claw. An occipital crest of lengthened, lanceolate, not decomposed, feathers ; 

 neck-feathers long but blended, those below depending in a tuft, those on sides hiding an 

 extensive bare space behind. In the breeding season, feathers of back lengthened, lance- 

 linear, but compact-webbed, and not forming a train. Upper parts glossy green. 



663. B. vires'cens. (Lat. virescens, growing green.) Green Heron. Adult in the breeding season 

 with the crown, long soft occipital crest, and lengthened narrow feathers of the back lustrous 

 dark green, sometimes with a bronzy iridescence; the dorsal plumes in high plumage with 

 a glaucous bluish cast. Wing-coverts green, with conspicuous tawny edgings ; neck rich dark 

 purplish-chestnut, the throat-line variegated vrith dusky and white. Under parts mostly dark 

 brownish-ash ; belly variegated with white. QuUls and tail gi'eenish-dusky with a glaucous 

 shade ; edge of the wing white ; some of the quills usually white-tipped. BOl greenish -black, 

 much of the under mandible yellow ; lores and iris yellow ; legs greenish-yellow ; lower neck 

 with lengthened feathers in front, a bare space behind. Young : Head less crested ; back with- 

 out long narrow plumes, but glossy-greenish ; neck merely reddish-brown ; whole under parts 

 white, variegated with tawny and dark brown. Length 16.00-18.00; extent about 25.00; 

 wing 6.50-7.S0; bUl 2.50; tarsus 2.00; middle toe and claw about the same; tibiae bare 1.00 

 or less. U. S., and a little beyond, abundant in summer ; resident in the South, and beyond. 

 This is a very pretty and engaging little heron, in spite of the ridiculous nickname by which it 

 is so well known to the great unwashed democracy of America. Breeds anywhere in its range, 

 sometimes in communities with larger species, often by itself in pairs. Nest a rude platform 

 of twigs, on tree or bush ; eggs 3-6, elliptical, 1.37 X 1.12, pale greenish. 



264. •NYCTIAR'DEA. (Gr. vv^, gen. mKTos, nux, nuktos, night : Lat. a/rdea, a heron. Fig. 460.) 



Night Herons. Of medium size; length about 

 2 feet. Bill very stout for this family ; bill, tarsus, 

 and middle toe with claw, of approximately equal 

 lengths. Tarsus reticulate in front below. Tibiae 

 briefly naked below. Neck short, con-esponding to 

 the short legs; body stout. No peculiar plumes, 

 excepting two or three extremely long filamentous 

 feathers springing from the hind head, generally 

 imbricated in one bundle. Sexes alike; young 

 very different. A better genus than any of the 

 foregoing, as distinguished from Ardea, but very 

 Fig. 460. —Night Heron. (From LewiB.) near the next, which might be combined with it. 



664. N. gri'sea nae'via. Black-crowned Night Heron. Qua-Bird. Squawk. Adult $ 

 9 : Crown, scapulars and interscapulars very dark glossy green ; other upper parts, wings 

 and tail, pale bluish-gray with a lilac or lavender tinge, most decided on the neck. Fore- 

 head and throat-line' white, shading into the lilaceous of the neck ; under parts whitish, 

 tinged with lilac. The long occipital plumes white. Eyes red ; lores greenish ; bill black ; 

 legs yellow; claws brown. Length 23.00-26.00; extent about 44.00; vidng 12.00-14.00; 

 tail 5-00; bill, tarsus, middle toe with claw, each 3.00 or a little more; tibiae bare about an 



