GREEN HERON. 



395 



would not have eluded the accurate eye of this naturalist. I 

 propose for this species the name of Wilsonii, as a small testi- 

 mony of respect to the memory of the author of the " American 

 Ornithology," whose loss science and America will long deplore. 

 The yellow spot upon the membrane of the feet distinguishes 

 this species, at first sight, from the others ; and this character 

 remains permanent in the dried specimens.' "] 



GREEN HERON. (Ardea virescens.) 



PLATE LXI.— Fig. 1. 



Arct. Zool, No. 349, 350.— Catesby, i. p. 80.— Le Crabier Vert, Buff. vii. p. 404.— 

 Lath. Syn. iii. p. 68. — Peale's Museum, No. 3797. 



ARDEA VIRESCENS.— Lixnjeus.* 

 Ardea virescens, Bonap. Synop. p. 307. — Wagl. Syst. Av. No. 36. 



This common and familiar species owes little to the liberality 

 of public opinion, whose prejudices have stigmatised it with 

 a very vulgar and indelicate nickname, and treat it on all 



* There are two or three beautiful little herons confounded under this 

 species, in the same manner, from their near alliance, as the little bittern 

 of Europe has been with A. exilis and pusilla. They are all, however, 

 to be distinguished when compared together, or when attention is given 

 to the markings. The nearest ally to A. virescens is the East Indian A. 

 scapularis ; the upper parts of both are nearly similar, but the neck and 

 under parts differ in being of a deep vinous chestnut in the one, and rich 

 ash grey in the other. In Wilson's plate, the chestnut colour is not re- 

 presented of a deep enough tint, and too much white is shown on the 

 fore part. 



In a specimen which I have lately received from South Carolina, the 

 colour of the neck is very deep and rich, almost approaching to that of 

 port wine ; the lengthened feathers of the back are remarkably long, 

 and show well the white shafts which ought to be so conspicuous in both 

 species. The confusion in the greater part of the synonyms must have 

 arisen by the specimens from both countries being indiscriminately com- 

 pared and described. — Ed. 



