74 
LOUISIANA HERON. 
number of long narrow purple feathers, and under these seven 
or eight pendent ones, of a pure white, and twice the length of 
the former; upper part of the back and wings light slate; lower 
part of the back and rump white, but concealed by a mass of 
long unwebbed hair-like plumage, that falls over the tail and 
tips of the wings, extending three inches beyond them; these 
plumes are of a dirty purplish broAvn at the base, and lighten 
towards the extremities to a pale cream colour; the tail is even 
at the tip, rather longer than the wings, and of a fine slate; the 
legs and naked thighs greenish yellow; middle claw pectinated; 
whole lower parts pure white. Male and female alike in plu- 
mage, both being crested. 
