238 AVES: HERODIONES. — XXXVI. 
variegated everywhere; foreneck striped with buffy; a dark patch 
on each side of neck. L. 23 to 28. W.12. T. 43. B.3. N. Am, 
373b. ARDETTA Gray. 
729. A.exilis (Gmelin). Least Bittern. ¢ chiefly glossy 
greenish black above, brownish yellow below, neck, shoulders and 
wings with chestnut; a buffy area on wing coverts; 9 with brown 
instead of black. L.14. W.5. T. 1%. B. 1%. N. Am., in reedy 
swamps. (Lat., slender). 
374. ARDEA Linnzus. (Lat. heron.) 
a. Bill shorter than tarsus. 
6. Length more than 35 (in adult); tarsus not twice middle toe without 
claw. 
ce. Color chiefly bluish; head crested in breeding season; dorsal plumes 
short. (Ardea.) 
730. A. herodias L. Great Biur Heron. Grayish blue, 
marked with black and white; crown black with white centre ; 
forehead white ; lower parts dusky, striped with white; tibia and 
edge of wing cinnamon brown. L. 42 to 50. W.19. B. 64. Ts. 
7% T. 7 Q smaller. N. Am,, generally common. (épwé:0s, 
heron.) 
cc. Color white; no crest; back in breeding season with long plumes. 
(Herodias Boie.) _ 
731. A. egretta Gmelin. Great Waite Eeret. L. 40. 
W. 17. B. 5. Ts. 6. Amer., chiefly 8. (Fr., aigretie, a top- 
knot.) 
bb. Length 20 to 32. 
d. Tarsus not nearly twice middle toe without claw. 
e. Color pure white at all times; plumes of breeding season very 
long, recurved, with loose webs. (Garzetta Kaup.) 
732. A. candidissima Gmelin. Snowy Earet. WHITE 
“Crane.” L. 24. W.12. B.3. 1.4. Tropical America, N. 
to N. Y., abundant. (Lat., very white.) 
ee. Color slaty blue, the head and neck maroon; the young white, 
and sometimes the adult nearly or quite white ; plumes slender, 
with compact webs. (Florida Baird.) 
738. A. cerulea L. Littte Brue Heron. L. 24. W. 12. 
T.4. B.3. Ts.4. E. Am., N. to Jil, common. 
dd. Tarsus twice as long as middle toe without claw. (Dichromanassa 
Ridgway.) 
734, A. rufescens Gmelin. ReppisH Ecret. Slate color; 
head and neck cinnamon; young grayish. L. 30. W.13. B. 4. 
Ts. 5. Southern, N. to Ill. (Lat., reddish.) 
aa. Bill not shorter than tarsus; L. less than 30. 
Jf. Scapular plumes in ¢ straight, hair-like, reaching beyond tail; wing 
more than 8. (Hydranassa Baird.) 
