LOUISIANA HERON. 
161 
claws of moderate size, rather strong’, arched, compressed, rather acute, 
that of the hind toe much larger, the edge of that of the third regularly 
pectinated. 
Space between, the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare, as is the lower 
half of the tibia. Plumage soft, generally loose. Feathers of the upper and 
hind part of the head elongated, tapering, decurved, about six of them larger 
and much longer ; of the sides, and especially of the lower part of the neck, 
also much elongated and narrow. The feathers of tire fore part of the back 
long and nai’row-pointed, those behind extremely elongated, with long 
loose thread-like barbs ; the rest of the back with short soft feathers. 
Wing of moderate length ; primaries tapering but rounded, the third longest, 
second very little shorter, first and fourth about equal ; secondaries broad 
and rounded, some of the inner as long as the longest primaries, when the 
wing is closed. Tail very short, small, slightly rounded, of twelve rather 
weak feathers. 
Bill brownish-black on the greater part of the upper mandible, and on the 
sides of the lower mandible towards the point ; the rest yellow, as is the 
bare space before and around the eye. Iris bright red. Feet light yellow- 
ish-green, the anterior scutella dusky, as are the claws. The general colour 
of the upper parts is light purplish-blue ; the elongated feathers of the head 
and hind neck above of a fine reddish-purple, as are those of the lower part 
of the neck ; the six longest feathers of the head white. The long loose 
feathers of the back dull purplish-yellow, paler towards their extremities. 
Throat white, its lower part chestnut; a line of white all the way down the 
fore part of the neck ; the longer feathers of the fore part of the breast 
dusky-blue on their inner webs. The breast, abdomen, tibiae, and under 
wing-coverts, white ; the lower tail-coverts tipped with blue. 
Length to end of tail 27 inches, to end of wings 28, to end of claws 34J ; 
extent of wings 37 ; loose feathers from 4 to 5 inches beyond the tail ; 
wing from flexure 101 ; tail 34 ; bill along the back 4, along the edges 5 ; bare 
part of tibia 2J ; tarsus 4-g-, middle toe 24, its claw i. Weight 1 lb. 
The Adult Female is precisely similar to the male. 
The Young, when newly hatched, are covered above with pale purplish- 
grey down, which is of greater length on the head, as in other species. 
The young fully fledged have the neck and fore part of the back light 
brownish-red, the throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the 
back ; the quills, larger wing-coverts and tail, light purplish-blue. The 
feathers of the head, neck and back are not yet elongated. The bill nearly 
as in the adult, but the legs deep-greenish-olive. 
After the first moult, the feathers of the head, neck and back, are a little 
elongated, and begin to be tinged with the colours which they have when 
Vol. YI. 22 
