Order 18. HERODIONES. 

 Family i. Ardeid^:. Herons, Egrets, Bitterns. 



Solitary or semi-gregarious wading birds of lengthened proportions, having two or three pairs of powder down 

 patches; plumage loose; color pattern simple (Egrets) or highly diversified (Bitterns, etc.); head, except lores, com- 

 pletely feathered. Birds of deliberate, dignified bearing and leisurely flight, or else marsh-skulking (Bitterns). 

 Nesting solitary or colonial. Eggs unmarked; over 100 species, of which 8 Californian. 

 I. Tail feathers 12; powder down patches, 3 pairs (Ardeimz). 



A. Plumage white. 



1. Larger, length 35.00 or over. 383. American Egret. 



2. Smaller, length about 24.00. 384. Snowy Egret. 



B. Plumage not white. 



1. Bill slender, longer than head. 



a. Largest, length about 48.00. 382. Great Blue Heron. 



b. Of medium size, length about 25.00 (accidental?). 385. Louisiana Heron. 



c. Smallest, length about 17.00. 386. Anthony's Green Heron. 



2. Bill stout, not longer than head. 387. Black-crowned Night Heron. 

 If. Tail feathers 10; powder down patches, 2 pairs {Botaurina). 



A. Larger, length about 30.00. 388. American Bittern. 



B. Smaller, length about 13.00. 389. Least Bittern. 



Family 2. Ciconiidte. Storks, Adjutants, Wood Ibises, etc. 



Wading or stalking birds of stouter proportions (than true herons), especially of neck and bill. They have only 

 10 rectrices and no powder down patches. Birds of this family are capable of vigorous, sustained flight, but are voice- 

 less. Eggs white, sometimes roughened, unmarked. About 20 species, of which one wanders occasionally into Cali- 

 fornia. 390. Wood Ibis. 



Family 3. IbididjE. Ibises. 



Medium or large-sized Herodiones, having cylindrical decurved bills and stouter legs; the anterior toes slightly 

 webbed at the base, the hind toe somewhat elevated. While members of this group have a close superficial resem- 

 blance, their eggs indicate divergences of great antiquity. About 30 species, one of regular occurrence in California. 



391. White-faced Glossy Ibis. 



Family 4. PLATALEiDiE. Spoon-bills. 



Ibises with specially modified bills, which are long and flat with widened, rounded tips. Six species, of which 

 one casual in California. 



392. Roseate Spoon-bill. 



Order 19. STEGANOPODES. 

 Family 1. Phaethontid^e. Tropic-birds. 



Crow-sized oceanic species having rather stout head and neck, plumage white varied by black above; and central 

 pair of tail-feathers extraordinarily lengthened. The birds fly with quick regular stroke, range several hundred miles 

 from land, and secure their prey by plunging from above, tern-fashion. 6 or 7 species known, of which one has ranged 

 north to California. 



393. Red-billed Tropic-bird. 



Family 2. Anhingidje. Darters. 



Fresh-water or brackish-lagoon diving-birds, with slender bodies, elongated necks, and heads curiously reduced 

 in size. Degree of bird's submergence evidently controlled by pneumatic sacs, so that it habitually swims with only 

 neck and head, a "snake's head," protruding. Four species, chiefly tropical, of which the American representative 

 barelv reaches southeastern California. 



394. Water Turkey. 



Family 3. Phalacrocoracid^e. Shags, or Cormorants. 



Sturdy, fish-eating, swimming and diving birds, having plumage chiefly lustrous black or black-and-white; 

 lengthened necks; heads reduced in size (but not so much as in Anhinga), and legs inserted well back, insomuch that 

 they stand erect and rest more or less upon the tarsus. Cormorants haunt off-shore rocks and range chiefly within 

 a dozen miles of land, or else upon the larger interior waters. A widely distributed group boasting some 40 species, 

 of which 3 are Californian. 

 I. Larger; iris green. 



A. Gular area definitely yellow; black of body plumage with 



greenish lusters; more brownish in immatures. 395. Farallon Cormorant. 



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