G70 
U. S. P. E. E. EXP. AND SUEVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENEEAL EEPOET. 
above, the forehead white. The under parts are almost entirely white, the sides of the breast and 
body streaked with black, instead of having nearly the whole belly black, streaked with white 
in the middle ; the sides of breast pure black. The neck is not cinnamon brownish, but ashy. 
The upper parts are of much the same shade with Ardea herodias, No. 9472. 
A young bird, supposed to belong to the same species, but without any indication of locality, 
differs from the adult much, as does that of the A. herodias. 
This species is readily distinguished from Ardea cocoi by the head being white above, not black ; 
the tibia rufous, not white ; the belly mostly white, not black ; the neck bluish ash, not white. 
It has much the same size and proportions with the Ardea occidentalis, and, in some respects, 
might almost be considered a cross between this species and herodias. 
In presenting to the scientific world the most magnificent species of heron known to inhabit 
the United States, and one presumed to have been hitherto undescribed, I take much pleasure 
in giving to it the name of Mr. Gustavus Wurdemann, of the United States Coast Survey, as a 
slight token of acknowledgment for what he has done towards bringing to light the novelties 
of our southern coast. It is not too much to say that no one, for years, has been instrumental 
in adding so many species of birds to our southern fauna as Mr. Wurdemann ; no less than 
nine previously unrecorded species having already been collected by him in Louisiana and Florida, 
besides very many new fishes and invertebrates. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
Whence obtained. 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
9479 
8690 
■ 
19.70 
3 
6539 
,l<> 
49.00 
70. 00 
20.00 
AUDUBONIA, Bo nap. 
Audubonia, Bonap. Conspectus, II, 1855, 113. Type Ardea occidentalis, Aud. 
Ch . — Similar to Ardea. Color white. No very long occipital feathers, nor much elongated scapulars. 
It is very questionable whether this bird can be considered as entitled to separate generic rank ; 
the differences from Ardea consisting only in a less extent of the feathers of head and scapulars, 
as well as in the white color. 
AUDUBONIA OCCIDENTALIS, Bonap. 
Great White Heron. 
Ardea occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 542 : V, 596 ; pi. 281.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 264.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 
1843, 110 ; pi. 368.— Bon. List, 1838.— Gundlacii, Caban. Journ. IV, 1856,341. 
Audubonia occidentalis, Bonap. Consp. 1855, 115. 
Sp. Ch. — Bill very stout. Middle toe about two-thirds the tarsus. Tibia bare for nearly one-half. Feathers of occiput 
lengthened, but no conspicuous crest, except perhaps in the adult. Scapulars not elongated. Color pure white. Length about 
45 inches; wing, 19.50; tarsus, 8.80; bill above, '6.50. 
Hob. — South Florida and Cuba. 
