28 
ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 
Of the extralimital species of this genus we have only G. nivea, Gmel., of Europe at hand for 
comparison. This species hears a close general resemblance to G. candidissima, being of nearly the 
same size, and having exactly similar scapular plumes. The jugular plumes, however, are acicular 
and somewhat rigid, instead of hairlike, with decomposed webs ; while the occipital plumes are 
entirely different, there being two very long, narrow feathers springing from the occiput, very 
much like those of the species of Ardea. The differences between the two species are more 
precisely expressed in the following table : — 
Com. Char. Plumage wholly pure white at all ages and seasons. Dorsal plumes reaching 
to about the end of the tail, their shafts rigid and more or less strongly recurved at ends, the webs 
decomposed, with the fibril 1® hairlike, and rather widely separated. 
1. G. candidissima. Occipital crest composed of numerous elongated feathers with their 
webs decomposed and hairlike; jugular plumes similar. Bill black, yellow at base; iris 
and eyelids yellow ; tibiae and tarsi black, the lower part of the latter, with toes, yellow. 
Culmen, 2.08-3.55 ; tarsus, 3.30-4.40 ; wing, 8.20-10.50. Hab. Warmer parts of America. 
2. G. nivea. 1 Occipital crest composed of two or three long, slender, decurved or pendant 
plumes, with compact webs ; jugular plumes acicular, somewhat rigid. Bill black, the 
base light green ; tibia and upper half of tarsi black ; lower half of latter, with toes, 
greenish-yellow. Culmen, 3.25-3.75 ; tarsus, 3.60-4.00 ; wing, 10.75. Ilab. Europe and 
parts of Asia and Africa. 
3. G. immaculata. 2 Similar to G. nivea, but without occipital crest, and with the toes 
blackish. Culmen, 3.70 ; tarsus, 3.75. Hab. Australia. 
Ardea nivea, Jacq. Beitr. 1784, 18, no. 13 (not of S. G. Gmel. 1770-1774). — Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 
1790, 696 (part). 
Little White Heron, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 93. 
Little Egret, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 90 (part ; includes also G. nivea). 
Ardea candidissima, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 633, no. 45. — Wils. Am. Orn. VII. 1813, 120, pi. 62, 
fig. 4. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 49. — Aud. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 317 ; V. 1839, 606, pi. 242 ; 
Synop. 1839, 267 ; Birds Am. VI. 1843, 163, pi. 374. — Cores, Key, 1872, 267 ; Check List, 
1873, 89, no. 453 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 521. — Reichenow, J. f. O. 1877, 273. 
Garzetta candidissima, Bo nap. Consp. II. 1855, 119. • — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 665 ; Cat. N. 
Am. B. 1859, no. 485. — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 490. — Coues, Check List, 2d ed. 
1882, no. 659. 
Ardea oula, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 633 (Chili). 
Ardea tliula, Lath. Ind. Orn. II. 1791, 688. 
Ardea carolinensis, Ord. ed. Wils. VII. 1825, 125. 
Ardea lactea, “ Cuv.” Less. Traite, I. 1831, 575 (Cayenne). 
Hab. The whole of temperate and tropical America, from the northern United States to Chili 
and Buenos Ayres ; summer or autumnal visitant only at the northern and southern extremes of 
its range. West Indies. 
Sp. Char. Length, about 20.00-24.00 ; expanse of wings, about 36.00-40.00 ; wing, 8.20- 
10.50 ; tail, 3.00-4.80 ; culmen, 2.08-3.65 ; depth of bill, .40-.55 ; tarsus, 3.15-4.50 ; middle 
1 Garzetta nivea, Gmel. The Little Egret of Europe. 
Ardea garzetta, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 237. — Naum. Vog. Deutsclil. IX. 1838, 101, pi. 223. 
Egretta garzetta, Macgill. Hist. Brit. B. IV. 1852, 471 (Little White Egret). 
Ardea nivea, S. G. Gmel. Nov.. Comm. Petrop. XV. 458, pi. 17. 
Herodias nivea, Bp.ehm, Vog. Deutsclil. p. 587. 
Hcrodias jubata, Buehm, Vog. Deutsclil. p. 586. 
2 Garzetta immaculata, Gould. Australian Little Egret. 
Herodias immaculata, Gould, B. Australia, vol. VI. 1848, pi. 58. 
Garzetta candidissima. 
THE SNOWY HERON. 
