82 WADING BIRDS. 



WARD'S HERON. 

 Ardea wardi. 



Char. Similar to the Great Blue Heron, but larger and of paler 

 tint; under parts white, narrowly .streaked with black; plumes silvery 

 gray ; legs and feet olive. Length 48 to 54 inches. 



Nest. With a community in a swampy grove ; placed on a high branch 

 of a tall mangrove ; made of twigs and lined with fresh green twigs. 



Eggs- 3-4 ; bluish green ; 2.65 X 1.85. 



This species was first described by Mr. Ridgway, from specimens 

 taken by Mr. Charles W. Ward in 1881. 



There has been considerable discussion concerning the status of 

 these large Herons, some authorities expressing the opinion that 

 both Ward's Heron and the Great White Heron are but geogra- 

 phical races of the Great Blue Heron ; but the weight of opinion is 

 in favor of considering the three as distinct species. 



Ward's Heron is said to be dichromatic, — having a dark and 

 light phase of plumage ; the light-colored birds being indistinguish- 

 able from occidentalis. 



In habits the present species does not differ from the Great Blue 

 Heron ; but Ward's Heron has been found in Florida only. 



GREAT WHITE HERON. 



florida heron. wurdeman's heron. 



Ardea occidentalis. 



Char. White phase. Plumage white ; crest with two long narrow 

 plumes, and plumes droop over the breast and wings also; bill yellow; 

 legs yellow and olive, feet brown. Blue phase. Similar to herodias, but 

 larger and lighter in color, — the head and crest white, and the under parts 

 with less black ; legs and feet yellowish olive. Length 45 to 54 inches. 



Nest. With a community ; placed usually on a low branch of a man- 

 grove, sometimes on a high branch ; a platform of dry twigs. 



Eggs. 3-4 ; bluish green; size variable, average about 2.60 X 1.85. 



This is doubtless the " Great White Crane " mentioned by 

 Nuttall as found by Audubon in Florida. The description was not 

 published until 1835, after Nuttall's work had been issued. 



In 1859 Spencer Baird described the blue-colored bird as a dis- 



