226 
HERONS AND BITTERNS 
finely speckled with grayish. Im. — Similar, but without ‘aigrette’ plumes, 
L., 29*00; W., 12*50; Tar., 5-40; B., 3*60. 
Remarks. — The two color phases of this bird were supposed to represent 
two species, the white phase being called Ardea pealei Bonap. They have, 
however, been found mated together, and intermediates or parti-colored 
specimens are known. 
Range. — S. N. Am. Breeds from L. Calif, and Gulf of Mex. to Jamaica 
and Guatemala; winters from s. Fla. southward; casual in Colo, and s. Ills. 
Nest, a platform of sticks, singly or in colonies, in bushes generally over 
salt-water. Eggs, 2-4, pale, dull blue, 1*95 x 1*45. Date, Tampa Bay, Apl. 
This is now a rare bird on the coasts of southern Florida and it is 
occasionally seen in the interior; the reddish phase prevailing. It is a 
graceful, active fisher and instead of waiting for its prey to come within 
spearing distance, pursues it rapidly through the shallow water. 
199, Hydranassa tricolor mficollis ( Gosse ). Louisiana Heron. 
Ads. — Upperparts dark bluish slate-color; back of head and upper neck with 
elongated chestnut-rufous and white feathers ; back with pale brownish gray 
‘aigrette’ plumes reaching to tail; lower back, rump and belly white; neck 
bluish slate-color; throat white, an indistinct rufous line down the middle 
of foreneck; legs blackish; base of bill and lores bluish. Im. — Throat, and 
an indistinct line down the foreneck, white; rest of head and neck brownish 
rufous; upper back and wings bluish slate-color, more or less washed with 
brownish rufous; no plumes; lower back, rump and belly white; breast with 
more or less slaty streaks; legs yellow behind, blackish before; lower mandible 
and lores orange; upper mandible black. L., 26*00; W., 10*00; Tar., 3*70; 
B., 3*90. 
Range. — S. N. Am. Breeds from N. C., and the Gulf States to the West 
Indies, Mex. (both coasts), and Gen. Am.; winters from S. C. southward; 
casual in Ind., N. J., and L. I. 
Long Island, one record. 
Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes or small trees over water. 
Eggs , 3-4, pale, dull blue, 1*75 x 1*35. Date, s. Fla., ApL 1 ; Santee, S. C., Apl. 20. 
The Louisiana Heron has fortunately never found favor with the 
milliners and consequently is doubtless as abundant today as it ever 
was; rookeries containing thousands of birds being not uncommon in 
Florida. It flies with its neck less drawn in than do our other Herons, 
and its sharply defined white abdomen is a further excellent field-mark. 
It is very noisy and excitable when mating and nesting, and when 
challenging a rival the neck-feathers are so erected and ruffled that the 
bird seems to be wearing a feather boa. It is sometimes a slow, stealthy 
feeder, and at others dashes for its prey. 
1908. Chapman, F. M., Camps and Cruises, 143. 
20©e Florida csarulea cserulea (Linn.). Little Blue Heron. Ads.— 
Head and neck maroon-chestnut; rest of plumage dark bluish slate-color; in- 
terscapulars and lower neck feathers lengthened and narrowly pointed ; lores 
blue; legs and feet black. Im. — White, plumage sometimes more or less 
washed with slaty; tips of the primaries always bluish slate-color; legs, feet 
and lores greenish yellow. L., 22*00; W., 10*25; Tar., 3*70; B., 3*00. 
Remarks. — Between the young and adult there is every stage of inter- 
gradation of color, some specimens being irregularly marked with blue and 
white in about equal proportions. Young birds are sometimes mistaken for 
Snowy Herons, but can always be distinguished by the greenish yellow legs 
and slaty tips of the primaries. They breed in the white plumage. 
