YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. 
93 
wlien the wing is closed. Tail short, even, of twelve broad, rounded 
feathers. 
Bill black. Iris reddish-orange ; margins of eyelids and bare space in 
front of the eye, dull yellowish-green. Tibia, upper part of the tarsus, its 
hind part, and the soles, bright yellow ; the scutella and scales, the forepart 
of the tarsus, the toes, and the claws, black. Upper part of the head pale 
reddish-yellow in front, white behind, of which colour are most of the 
elongated crest feathers, as well as an oblong patch extending from the 
corner of the mouth, beneath, to behind the ear. The rest of the head, and 
a small portion of the neck all round, bluish-black; that colour extending 
nearly half way down the neck behind. The rest of the neck all round, as 
well as the upper and lower surface of the body, light greyish-blue ; the 
feathers of the fore part of the back, and wings, having their central parts 
bluish-black, which is also the case with the elongated loose feathers, the 
dark part margined with bluish-white. Alula, primary coverts, and 
primary quills, dark bluish-grey ; secondaries and tail-feathers of a lighter 
tint. 
Length to end of tail 23£ inches, to end of wings 25, to end of loose 
feathers 30, to end of claws 304, to carpal joint 121 ; extent of wings 43£ ; 
bill along the ridge 21, along the edge of lower mandible 4 ; width of gap 
11 ; depth of bill at base 7 j ; wing from flexure 121 ; bare part of tibia 
21 ; tarsus 4£ ; middle toe 2 h ; its claw f ; outer toe l-£ ; its clawf ; inner 
toe 14, its claw f ; hind toe 1, its claw ■§ ; tail 5. Weight 1 lb. 9 oz. 
The Female resembles the male, but is somewhat smaller. 
The young in October. 
Bill greenish-black, the lower and basal part of the lower mandible 
greenish-yellow, as are the eyelids and bare space before the eye. Iris pale 
orange. Legs and feet dull yellowish-green, the scutella and scales in front, 
as well as the claws, dusky. Upper part of head and hind neck, black, 
longitudinally marked with somewhat triangular elongated white spots ; 
sides of the head and neck pale dull yellowish-brown, streaked with darker ; 
the upper parts light grey, tinged with brown, the feathers edged with 
yellowish-white, and tipped with a triangular spot of the same; the primaries 
and their coverts with the tail darker, margined with dull white. The fore 
part of the neck, and all the lower parts, dull yellowish-grey, each feather 
with its central part dark greyish-brown ; lower tail-coverts unspotted. 
Length to end of tail 23£, to end of. claws 29£ ; extent of wings 40. 
Weight lib. 7 oz. 
Adult Male from South Carolina. 
The upper mandible is slightly concave, with a median prominent ridge ; 
the palate convex, with two ridges; the posterior aperture of the nares linear 
