ARDEIDiE — THE HERONS — ARDEA. 
15 
(sometimes suffused with rufous). Tibiae very pale rufous, sometimes almost white ; crissum 
white. Upper mandible black, paler, or horn-color, along the tomium ; lower, pale pea-green, 
deepening into clear horn-yellow on terminal half; eyelids and horizontal space on lore light 
apple-green ; iris gamboge-yellow ; tibiae and soles of toes, apple-green ; rest of legs and feet 
black. 1 
Wing, 17.90-20.00 ; tail, 7.30-8.00 ; culmen, 4.30-6.00 ; depth of bill, through middle of 
nostril, 0.85-1.10 ; naked portion of tibia, 3.50-5.00 ; tarsus, 6.00-8.00 ; middle toe, 3.50-4.50. 
[Extremes of 17 adult specimens.] 
Geographical and Individual Variations. So far as is indicated by the rather scant 
material before me (17 adult specimens), there is little, if any, variation in proportions or colors 
which can be considered strictly geographical. Especially is this so with regard to dimensions and 
relative measurements of different parts in an individual, — a fact which is clearly shown by the 
carefully-made measurements of the whole series. The typical style, indeed, prevails with such 
uniformity, that of seventeen specimens only four differ in any noteworthy respect from the average 
style. These “ aberrant ” examples are the following : — 
No. 68300, from Florida, is decidedly the largest in the whole series, its general size almost 
equalling that of A. occidentalis. The bill also approaches quite nearly to that of the latter species, 
both in size and form. In colors, however, it is true herodias, so far as essential characters are 
concerned, the head-pattern being exactly as in typical specimens of that species ; the abdomen 
with black largely prevailing, etc. The only obvious difference from ordinary specimens of the 
species consists in the peculiar plumage of the neck, which at first sight appears to be white 
throughout. A close examination, however, reveals the fact that the feathers are very much 
worn or abraded, and that wherever they are least so a lavender-gray tinge is distinctly visible ! 
Now, if we examine closely the neck plumage of typical A. lierodias, we find that it is only the 
surface which has this lavender-gray color, the concealed portion of the feathers being whitish ; so 
that the white appearance of the neck in this specimen is thus readily accounted for. As probably 
indicating a tendency to albinism, it may be remarked that there are in this specimen many pure 
white feathers mixed through the rump and upper tail-coverts. 2 
The most important specimen of all, since its peculiarities are real, and not merely apparent, 
is No. 8065, from Mexico, also an adult. This example represents the opposite extreme in size 
from that just noticed, being much the smallest in the whole series. As to plumage, it is typical 
A. herodias. The shades of color are very deep and dark throughout, however, though not more 
so than 4524, from Cape Flattery, W. T., which almost exactly resembles it in this respect. The 
neck of this specimen is of precisely the same shade as that of A. occidentalis (“ Wurdemanni ”). 
The chief peculiarity of this specimen is that the bill is throughout of a clear bright yellow, 
whereas in true herodias only part of the lower mandible is of this color, the upper being mainly 
dusky. Should this latter character, taken together with the very small size, prove constant in 
Mexican adult specimens, they may rank as a geographical race, for which the term “ Ardea Lessoni ,” 
Bonap., would probably have to be employed. 
The Cape Flattery specimen alluded to above agrees exactly with the Mexican specimen as to 
colors, but its proportions are very peculiar. Thus, while the wing is above the average length 
and the tail up to the maximum, the bill is considerably below the average, being smallest of all 
except that of the Mexican specimen ; the tibia and tarsus represent the minimum length, while 
the middle toe is shorter than that of any other in the entire series ! 
The only other specimen in the collection worth mentioning in this connection is No. 33134, 
Cape Saint Lucas. This specimen, also an adult, is remarkable simply on account of its very light 
colors. There is an unusual predominance of white on the breast and jugulum, and the colors 
generally (excepting, of course, the black) are two or three shades lighter than in the average. Its 
measurements come near the maximum. In these peculiarities, however, we see only the result 
of an extremely dry and hot climate, the bleaching effect of which is plainly visible in all the 
birds of brown or grayish plumage in that region of continued droughts, which embraces, besides 
1 Notes taken from fresh specimen [No. 84, 578, Nat. Mus., 9 juv.. Mount Carmel, Illinois, Sept. 
26, 1870. Length, 42.00 ; expanse, 68.50]. 
2 Since the above was written, a re-examination of the specimen proves it to be A. Wardi! The first 
inspection was made several years previous to the discovery of the latter species. 
