LOUISIANA HERON. 161 



claws of moderate size, rather strong, arched, compressed, rather acute, that 

 of the hind toe much larger, the edge of that of the third regularly pecti- 

 nated. 



Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare, as is the lower 

 half of the tibia. Plumage soft, generally loose. Feathers of the upper and 

 hind part of the head elongated, tapering, decurved, about six of them larger 

 and much longer; of the sides, and especially of the lower part of the neck, 

 also much elongated and narrow. The feathers of the fore part of the back 

 long and narrow-pointed, those behind extremely elongated, with long loose 

 threadlike barbs; the rest of the back with short soft feathers. Wing of 

 moderate length; primaries tapering but rounded, the third longest, second 

 very little shorter, first and fourth about equal; secondaries broad and round- 

 ed, some of the inner as long as the longest primaries, when the wing is 

 closed. Tail very short, small, slightly rounded, of twelve rather weak 

 feathers. 



Bill brownish-black on the greater part of the upper mandible, and on th8 

 sides of the lower mandible towards the point; the rest yellow, as is the 

 bare space before and. around the eye. Iris bright red. Feet light yellow- 

 ish-green, the anterior scutella dusky, as are the claws. The general colour 

 of the upper parts is light purplish-blue; the elongated feathers of the head 

 and hind neck above of a fine reddish-purple, as are those of the lower part 

 of the neck; the six longest feathers of the head white. The long loose 

 feathers of the back dull purplish-yellow, paler towards their extremities. 

 Throat white, its lower part chestnut; a line of white all the way down the 

 fore part of the neck; the longer feathers of the fore part of the breast 

 dusky-blue on their inner webs. The breast, abdomen, tibise, and under 

 wing-coverts, white; the lower tail-coverts tipped with blue. 



Length to end of tail 27 inches, to end of wings 28, to end of claws 34|; 

 extent of wings 37; loose feathers from 4 to 5 inches beyond the tail; wing 

 from flexure lOf ; tail 3-|; bill along the back 4, along the edges 5; bare part 

 of tibia 2i; tarsus 4-|, middle toe 2|, its claw \. Weight 1 lb. 



The Adult Female is precisely similar to the male. 



The Young, when newly hatched, are covered above with pale purplish- 

 grey down, which is of greater length on the head, as in other species. 



The young fully fledged have the neck and fore part of the back light 

 brownish-red, the throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the 

 back; the quills, larger wing-coverts and tail, light purplish-blue. The 

 feathers of the head, neck and back are not yet elongated. The bill nearly 

 as in the adult, but the legs deep greenish-olive. 



After the first moult, the feathers of the head, neck and back, are a little 

 elongated, and begin to be tinged with the colours which they have when 



Vol. VI. 22 



