BLUE HERON. 



Ctmcrofagus Brasiliensis. Brlss. Orn, 5. 4^9. 40. ? 

 Ardeola Brasiliensis. llaii. S^n. p. 101 . 18. ? 

 Le Crabier bleu. Buffi Ois. 7. 398. 

 Le Crabier chalybe. Buff. Ois. 7. 404. > 

 Blue Crane. Wills. Amer, Orn. 7. 1 1 7. pi. Ixii. f.Z. 

 Blue Heron. Catesb. Carol. 1. pi. 76. — Penn. Jrct, Zool. 2. 

 351.— Lath, Gen. Syn. 5. 78. 45. 



Length eighteen inches : beak three inches, 

 and blue, with the lower mandible yellowish : the 

 irides yellow : orbits and space between the beak 

 and eye naked, and yellowish : the feathers on the 

 back part of the head, and those of the lower part 

 of the neck, are elongated : the prevailing colour 

 of the plumage is deep blue, inclining to lead- 

 colour : the head and neck are fine changeable 

 purple : the back is clothed with long, narrow, 

 silky feathers, hanging considerably beyond the 

 tail : the legs are green. 



The young? have the head and neck of a dull 

 purple : the chin white, passing in a stripe half- 

 w^ay down the fore-part of the neck : the head but 

 slightly crested : the back lead-coloured, and its 

 long silky feathers wanting. 



This bird inhabits North America and the West 

 Indies : said also to occur in New Zealand and 

 Otaheite, 



