i ;o 
BIRDS OF THE BAHAMA ISLANDS. 
ARDEA RUFA. Bodd. 
Reddish Egret. 
Winter Plumage , Male. — Slaty gray ; head and neck below, 
brown; an occipital crest of the same color; lores, flesh-color; iris, 
white ; bill, black on the terminal half, like the lores at the base ; 
legs, bluish. Immature plumage entirely white or slaty gray ; legs, 
greenish; soles of the feet, yellow. 
Length 29, wing 14, tail 4, tarsus 5.30, bill 3.90. 
There is a great difference in the plumage of young and old 
birds; some adults are white, while some young birds are colored; 
but these are exceptions. 
The Reddish Egret is a resident, and much more abundant than 
any other species of its family. Incubation commences about May 
15. The nest is a rough structure, composed of sticks loosely put 
together, and built in the lower branches of the mangroves close to 
the water. On June 25, I procured two young birds from the same 
nest, on o. pure white and the other gray. Neither of them was then 
able to fly. The white one appeared to be a weak little thing, and 
died a few days afterwards ; but his brother soon gained strength, 
grew finely, and is at the present time well and hearty, eats quanti- 
ties of fish, and amuses itself by chasing stray dogs out of the yard 
in which if lives. 
Fig. Aud. Bds. N. A., Vol. VI. pi. 371. 
