14 
DEMI-EGRET HERON. 
Length of the Demi-Egret Heron from the point of the bill to 
the extremity of the tail twenty-three inches ; the long hair-like 
plumage of the rump and lower part of the back extends several 
inches farther; the bill is remarkably long, measuring full five 
inches, of a yellowish green at the base, black towards the point, 
and very sharp ; irides yellow ; chin and throat white, dotted with 
ferruginous and some blue ; the rest of the neck is of a light vinous 
purple, intermixed on the lower part next the breast with dark 
slate-colored plumage ; the whole feathers of the neck are long, 
narrow and pointed ; head crested, consisting first of a number of 
long narrow purple feathers, and under these seven or eight pen- 
dent 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, ex- 
tending three inches beyond them : these plumes are of a dirty 
purplish brown at the base, and lighten towards the extremities to 
a pale cream color ; 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 plumage, both being crested. 
