117* BIRDS OF ixajjsois. 



Family ARDEIDiB.— The Herons. 



Chab, Altricial waders having the bill compressed, pointed, all the outlmes nearly 

 straight; the lores pnd orbits Jiafced: the rest of the head (except, sometimes, the malar 

 region, or part of the throat) feathered, the oooiput, also lower foretaebk, b'aok, or scapu- 

 lars, freauently with ornamental plumes. Plumage generally handsome and variegated. 

 Two to three pairs of powder-down tracts. Other characters variable. 



The Herons are among the most widely diffused of birds, one 

 species, the common Night Heron {Nycticorax nycUcorax) being 

 nearly cosmopolitan. Many of the Old World forms have not 

 been examined in the present connection, but there is good 

 reason for believing that the number of subfamilies here recog- 

 nized- as represented in America can be consistently increased. 



Ardeinse. Tail-feathers 12, more lengthened, and decidedly more stiff than the coverts; 

 outer toe as lone as or decidedly longer than the inner; claws comparatively shoit 

 and strongly curved. 



Botaurinae. Tail-feathers 10. very short, scarcely more stiff than the coverts; outer toe de- 

 cidedly shorter than the inner; claws lengthened, slightly curved. 



Subfamily AEDEIN.ffi.— The True Herons anb Egrets. 



Analysis of Genera. 



Bill comparatively long and narrow, the culmen longer than the tarsng, and eanal te at 

 least five times the greatest depth of the blU ; plumage of the young not eongpiou- 

 onsly different in pattern from that of the adult Ardea. 



Bill comparatively short and thick, the culmen not longer than the tarsus, and equal to 

 not more than four times the greatest depth of the bill; plumage of the young oon- 

 epicuously different in pattern from that of the adult Nyetiooiaz, 



