X60 LOUISIANA HERON. 



are frequently seen in the rice-fields, feeding along the ditches by which the 

 water is led to those places. At this season they are uncommonly gentle 

 and easily approached. 



The Louisiana Heron acquires the full beauty of its plumage the second 

 year after its birth, although it continues for some time to increase in size. 

 The train and crest lengthen for several years until they become, as repre- 

 sented in the plate. To procure specimens in such complete plumage, how- 

 ever, requires some care, for this state does not last many days after pairing 

 has taken place, and by the time the young are hatched much of this fine 

 plumage has dropped. When autumn has come, only a few of the long 

 barbs remain, and in winter no appearance of them can be seen. 



The flesh of the young birds affords tolerable eating. The food of this 

 species consists of small fry, water insects, worms, slugs, and snails, as well 

 as leeches, tadpoles, and aquatic lizards. 



Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 13. 



Ardea Ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn., p. 305. 



Louisiana Heron, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 51. 



Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iii. p. 135; vol. v. p. 605. 



Male, 27, 37. 



Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it is abundant. Migrates east- 

 ward to New Jersey, where it is rare; up the Mississippi to Natchez. 

 Never seen far inland. 



Adult Male. 



Bill much longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point, 

 the mandibles nearly equal. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly 

 straight, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, narrowed towards 

 the end, a groove from the base to two-thirds of the length, beneath which 

 the sides are convex, the edges thin and sharp, with a notch on each side 

 close to the sharp tip. Nostrils basal, linear, longitudinal, with a membrane 

 above and behind. Lower mandible with the angle extremely narrow and 

 elongated, the dorsal line beyond it ascending and almost straight, the edges 

 sharp and slightly inflected, the tip acuminate. 



Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender. 

 Body slender and compressed; wings rather large. Feet very long; tibia 

 elongated, its lower half bare, very slender, covered all round with angular 

 scales, of which the posterior are scutelliform; tarsus elongated, slender, 

 compressed, covered anteriorly with numerous scutella, laterally and behind 

 with angular scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate 

 above, reticularly granulate beneath; third toe much longer than second, 

 which is very little longer than fourth, the hind toe much shorter but strong; 



