YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 93 



when the wing is closed. Tail short, even, of twelve broad, rounded 

 feathers. 



Bill black. Iris reddish-orange; margins of eyelids and bare space in 

 front of the eye, dull yellowish-green. Tibia, upper part of the tarsus, its 

 hind part, and the soles, bright yellow; the scutella and scales, the fore part 

 of the tarsus, the toes, and the claws, black. Upper part of the head pale 

 reddish-yellow in front, white behind, of which colour are most of the 

 elongated crest feathers, as well as an oblong patch extending from the 

 corner of the mouth, beneath, to behind the ear. The rest of the head, and 

 a small portion of the neck all round, bluish-black; that colour extending 

 nearly half-way down the neck behind. The rest of the neck all round, as 

 well as the upper and lower surface of the body, light greyish-blue; the 

 feathers of the fore part of the back, and wings, having their central parts 

 bluish-black, which is also the case with the elongated loose feathers, the 

 dark part margined with bluish-white. Alula, primary coverts, and 

 primary quills, dark bluish-grey; secondaries and tail-feathers of a lighter 

 tint. 



Length to end of tail 23j inches, to end of wings 25, to end of loose 

 feathers 30, to end of claws 304, to carpel joint 124; extent of wings 43-^; 

 bill along the ridge 2%, along the edge of lower mandible 4; width of gap 

 14; depth of bill at base 7f; wing from flexure 12^; bare part of tibia 24; 

 tarsus 4^; middle toe 2\\ its claw •§; outer toe 1^, its claw |?; inner toe If, 

 its claw !?; hind toe 1, its claw -§; tail 5. Weight 1 lb. 9 oz. 



The Female resembles the male, but is somewhat smaller. 



The Young in October. 



Bill greenish-black, the lower and basal part of the lower mandible 

 greenish-yellow, as are the eyelids and bare space before the eye. Iris pale 

 orange. Legs and feet dull yellowish-green, the scutella and scales in front, 

 as well as the claws, dusky. Upper part of head and hind neck, black, 

 longitudinally marked with somewhat triangular elongated white spots; 

 sides of the head and neck pale dull yellowish-brown, streaked with darker; 

 the upper parts light grey, tinged with brown, the feathers edged with 

 yellowish-white, and tipped with a triangular spot of the same; the primaries 

 and their coverts with the tail darker, margined with dull white. The fore 

 part of the neck, and all the lower parts, dull yellowish-grey, each feather 

 with its central part dark greyish-brown; lower tail-coverts unspotted. 



Length to end of tail 23j, to end of claws 29^; extent of wings 40. 

 Weight 1 lb. 7 oz. 



Adult Male from South Carolina. 



The upper mandible is slightly concave, with a median prominent ridge; 

 the palate convex, with two ridges; the posterior aperture of the nares linear, 



