88 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON, aUA-BIRD. 



tarsus covered anteriorly along its upper two-thirds with scutella, below and 

 on the sides with large angular scales; toes long and rather slender, 

 scutellate above, flat beneath, marginate; hind toe stout, fourth a little longer 

 than second, third much longer; claws of moderate size, stout, arched, 

 compressed, rather acute, that of middle toe beautifully pectinate on the 

 inner edge. 



Plumage soft, blended. Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head 

 elongated and loose, with three very long, linear incurved occipital feathers, 

 having their webs inflected. The feathers of the neck, especially of its 

 lower part and sides, are also elongated, the latter curved backwards. Wings 

 of moderate length, broad, rounded; primaries broad, rounded, the third 

 longest, the first longer than the fourth. Tail short, slightly rounded, of 

 twelve broad, rounded feathers. 



Bill black. Bare loral space and eyelids yellowish-green; iris bright red. 

 Feet yellow; claws brown. Feathers on the upper part of the head, the 

 fore part of the back, and the scapulars, glossy blackish-green; anterior part 

 of forehead white; neck anteriorly white, on the sides and behind shaded 

 into pale lilac, the lower elongated feathers tinged with cream-colour; breast 

 and abdomen white, similarly tinged. Wings, rump, and tail, light greyish- 

 blue, tinged with lilac. 



Length to end of tail 25 T 7 2 inches, to end of wings 25f§, to end of claws 

 30 T %; extent of wings 44; wing from flexure 13f; tail 5; bill along the 

 ridge 3 T 2 2, along the edge of lower mandible 4^; bare part of tibia 1?; tarsus 

 3i; middle toe 3; its claw ff. Weight 1 lb. 14 oz. 



Young after first moult. 



Bill and bare space about the eye yellowish-green, the ridge of the upper 

 mandible, and part of the lower towards the end, black. Iris bright red. 

 Feet pale greyish-yellow. At this period the occipital feathers are not 

 developed. The general colour of the upper parts is light greyish-brown, 

 the edges of the feathers paler; that of the lower parts dull white, tinged 

 with grey and cream colour, with the central part of each feather greyish- 

 brown; the feathers of the back and wings, as well as the secondary quills, 

 have a long triangular spot of brownish-white at the end; the rump and tail 

 more tinged with bluish-grey. 



The Adult Female resembles the Male. 



Amaryllis Atamasco, Willd. Sp. PL, vol. ii. p. 51. Pursh, Flora Amer. Sept., vol. i. 

 p. 222. 



This species, which grows in swamps, and moist woods, in Virginia and 



