144 
THE REDDISH EGRET. 
tion, the one group running into the other in an almost imperceptible grada 
tion. Hoping that an account of the extent of the migrations of the species 
of Heron that occur in the United States, and whose habits I have studied 
for many years under the most favourable circumstances, may prove accept- 
able, I now lay one before you, arranging the species according to size, 
without regard to the rank they hold in systematic works. 
1. The Great White Heron. Ardea occidentalis. A constant resident 
on the southern keys of Florida; entirely maritime; never goes farther east- 
ward than Cape Florida, though in winter the younger birds migrate south- 
ward, and perhaps pass beyond the extremities of the Gulf of Mexico. 
2. The Great Blue Heron. Ardea Herodias. A constant resident in 
the Floridas; migrates throughout the Union, and as far along the Atlantic 
coast as the southernmost islands of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in summer; 
breeds in all the districts, and at the approach of winter returns to the 
Southern States. 
3. The White Heron. Ardea Egretta. Resident in the Floridas ; mi- 
grates to the eastward sometimes as far as Massachusetts, and up the Mis- 
sissippi as far as the city of Natchez; never seen far inland. 
4. The Reddish Egret. Ardea rufescens. Resident on the Florida Keys ; 
entirely maritime ; never seen farther eastward than Cape Florida; the 
young sometimes remove southward in winter. 
5. The American Bittern. Ardea lentiginosa. A winter resident in the 
Floridas; many migrate over the greater part of the Union and beyond 
its northern limits; never seen in Kentucky; return before winter to the 
Southern States. 
6. The Night Heron. Ardea JYydicorax. Resident in the Floridas ; 
migrates eastward as far as Maine, up the Mississippi as high as Memphis; 
none seen in Kentucky; returns to the Southern States at the approach of 
winter, and occurs at the distance of a hundred miles inland. 
T. The Yellow-crowned Heron. Ardea violacea. A few spend the win- 
ter in the Floridas ; it rarely migrates farther eastward than New Jersey; 
proceeds up the Mississippi to Natchez; never goes far inland; the greatest 
aumber winter beyond the southern limits of the United States. 
8. The Blue Heron. Ardea catrulea. Resident in the Floridas ; migrates 
eastward as far as Long Island ; proceeds up the Mississippi about a hun- 
dred miles above Natchez; never goes far inland. 
9. The Louisiana Heron. Ardea Ludoviciana. Resident in the Floridas; 
rarely seen as far east as New Jersey ; seldom passes Natchez on the Mis- 
sissippi ; never goes far inland. 
10. The White Egret. Ardea candidissinia. Resident in the Floridas ; 
migrates eastward as far as New York, up the Mississippi as far as Memphis; 
