WADING BIRDS 
198. Reddish Egret. Dichromanassa rufescens. 
Range. — In the United States, this species is 
confined chiefly to the Gulf States. 
It is somewhat larger than the last species, the 
head and neck are rufous, the body is bluish gray, 
and the back is adorned with slender gray plumes. 
It also has a white phase. This Egret is very 
abundant along the whole Gulf coast, but especial- 
Pale bluish green 
ly so in Texas. Their nesting habits are identi- 
cal with those of the other small Herons and 
Egrets. The three or four eggs are rather of a 
more greenish blue than the preceding. Size 1.90 
x 1.45. Data. — Gainesville, Florida, April 14, 1894. 
Three eggs. Nest of sticks and straw in a but- 
ton-wood tree, two feet above the water. Collec- 
tor, George Graham. 
199. Louisiana Heron. Hydranassa tricolor 
ruficollis. 
Range. — Subtropical America, north regularly 
to the Gulf States and casually farther. 
This Heron is of about the size of the Reddish 
Egret, but the neck is longer, more slender and 
dark, while the chin, throat and underparts 
are white. The plumes from the back are 
short, reaching barely to the end of the 
tail. They nest in large colonies in com- 
pany with Egrets and Little Blue Herons, 
placing their nests in the mangroves, only 
a few feet above the water. Their nests are 
the same as those of the other species, a 
slight platform of sticks, and the three to 
five eggs are practically not distinguishable 
from those of the Snowy or Little Blue 
Herons. Size 1.75 x 1.35. 
Reddish Egret 
Louisiana Heron 
123 
