ANATIN^. 
267 
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated, tapering, 
curved, about six of them larger and much longer ; of the back ex- 
tremely elongated, with loose threadlike filaments, extending beyond 
the tail ; bill brownish-black above, yellow beneath ; feet light green- 
ish-yellow, with the scutella dusky ; general colour of upper parts 
light purplish-blue ; elongated feathers of head and neck above, red- 
dish-purple, as are those of the lower part of the neck ; six longest 
feathers of head white ; elongated loose feathers of back dull purplish- 
yellow ; throat white, its lower part chestnut ; a line of white down 
the fore neck ; rump and lower parts pure white, except the anterior 
feathers of the breast, which have their inner webs dusky blue. Young 
with the neck and fore part of the back light brownish-red ; throat 
and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the back ; quills, larger 
wing-coverts and tail light purplish-blue. Plumage and colouring 
completed at the end of the second year. 
MalCj 27, 37. 
Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it is abundant. Migrates 
eastward to New Jersey, where it is rare ; up the Mississippi to 
Natchez. Never seen far inland. 
Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 13. 
Ardea Ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn. p. 305. 
Louisiana Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 51. 
Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 136 ; v. v. p. 605. 
376. 12. Ardea candidissima, Gmel. Snowy Heron. 
Plate CCXLII. Male. 
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head very long, loose, 
decurved ; of the middle of the back very long, loose, decurved, with 
their extremities recurved ; bill and legs black ; toes yellow. Plumage 
pure white. Young white, with the legs and toes dull green. 
Male, 224, 38. 
Resident from Texas to Florida. Migrates in spring as far as Massa- 
chusetts. Breeds in all intermediate districts ; up the Mississippi to 
Memphis. Abundant. 
Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 120. 
Ardea candidissima, Bonap. Syn. p. 305. 
Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 49. 
Snowy Heron, Ardea candidissima, Aud. Om. Biog. v. iii. p. 317 ; v. v. p. 606. 
FAMILY XXXIX. ANATIN^. DUCKS. 
Bill of moderate length, stout, straight, depressed toward 
the end, obtuse, covered with soft skin ; upper mandible 
transversely convex, with the margins internally lamellate, 
the tip furnished with a decurved horny broad unguis; 
