22 
ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. 
Genus HERODIAS, Boie. 
Herodias, Boie, Isis, 1822. Type, Ardea egretta, Linn. 
Gen. Char. White Herons of large size, and without plumes, except in the breeding season, 
when ornamented simply (in most species x ) by a long train of straight feathers, with thick shafts, 
and long, sparse, decomposed, slender barbs, which grow from the dorsal region and overhang the 
tail. Bill moderately slender, the upper and lower outlines almost parallel to near the end, where 
gently curved, the culmen more abruptly so than the gonys, though the curve is quite gradual. 
Mental apex reaching a point about midway between the tip of the hill and the eye ; malar apex 
decidedly anterior to the frontal apex, and extending to beneath the posterior end of the nostrils. 
Toes very long, the middle one about two thirds the tarsus, the hallux much less than one half the 
former. Tibiae bare for about one half their length, or for about the length of the middle toe. 
II. egretta. 
Anterior scutelloe of tarsus large, distinct, and nearly quadrate. Nuptial plumes confined to the 
anterior part of the back, whence spring numerous long, straight, and thick shafts, reaching, when 
fully developed, to considerably beyond the end of the tail ; each stem having along each side 
very long, slender, and distant fibril lie. Tail even, of twelve broad feathers. Lower nape well 
feathered. Plumage entirely pure white at all stages and seasons. 
This genus, like Ardea, Garzetta, etc., is nearly cosmopolitan, being wanting only in the islands 
of the South Pacific and in the colder latitudes of other regions. It comprises but a single Ameri- 
can species, which has a more extensive range than any other of the American Herons, excepting 
only Nyctiardea grisea wcemVt, 1 2 its regular habitat extending from the United States to Chili and 
Patagonia. In their immature stage and in winter plumage, the several Old World species closely 
resemble the American species, as well as one another. But it is believed that in full dress 
the following distinctions will be found to hold good in the forms which we have been able to 
compare. Gray’s Hand-list (vol. III. pp. 27, 28) recognizes the following species : (1) II. alba, L., 
of Europe, Africa, India, and Australia ; (2) H. egretta, Gjiel., of America ; (3) H. intermedia, V. 
1 An Old World species (II. plumiferus, Goulb) has long jugular feathers with decomposed webs. 
2 It is an unsettled question, however, whether the Night Heron of Chili, Patagonia, etc., may not be 
a distinct race ( N . grisea obscura ; see page 56). 
