ARDEA PEAL1. 
411 
DIMENSIONS. 
Average measurements of specimens from Eastern North America. Length, 23*75, stretch, 38‘00; wing, 10-35; tail, 
3*45; bill, 3*70; tarsus, 3-55. Longest specimen, 26'00; greatest extent of wing, 41*00; longest wing, 1175; tail, .3"60; bill, 
3*80; tarsus, 3‘85. Shortest specimen, 21*50; smallest extent of wing, 35*00; shortest wing, 10*00; tail, 3 40; bill, 2-90; tar¬ 
sus, 3*30. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed in trees or bushes, composed of sticks, loosely arranged. Eyys, two to four in number, varying from 
elliptical to oval in form, pale greenish-blue in color, unspotted. Dimensions from l*20x 1'80 to l*25x 1*85. 
HABITS. 
The Snowy are among the most agile of all the Herons, rising very lightly and quick¬ 
ly from the ground; then, when on the wing, moving quite swiftly. They may always be 
distinguished from the White Heron, by this peculiarity; then their wings are moved more 
rapidly than those of that species, for the wing-beats of the larger bird, are given quite 
slowly but not as deliberately as are those of the Great White. ' The Snowy Herons are 
distributed throughout the entire extent of Florida, but prefer the inland waters to those 
of the coast. They breed in March, about the same time as the larger species, often in 
company with them. When the nests of either of these Herons are approached, the birds 
silently leave them and fly about, without uttering a cry, or settling on the neighboring 
trees, quietly watch the proceedings. These little Herons assemble in large flocks, in win¬ 
ter, and I thinkT never witnessed a finer sight, than that presented by a large number of 
these beautiful birds, when flying swiftly through the air, and when they turn, which they 
do with graceful ease, the sunlight glancing upon their plumage, reveals its snowy white¬ 
ness to perfection. 
ARDEA PEALI. 
Peale’s Egret. 
Ardea Pea/i Bon, Syu.; 1828, 304. 
DESCRIPTION. 
Sr. Ch. Form, robust. Size, medium. Tongue, very long,'slender, and narrowing gradually to tip which is point¬ 
ed. Head, neck, and breast, provided with slightly curled, lanceolate plumes and there are long, filamentous ones on the 
back. Lower half of tibia, naked. 
Color. Adult. Pure snowy white throughout. Naked space in front of eyes, and basal half of bill, bright purple, 
the latter, black terminally. Iris, yellow. Feet, bluish. Youny. Similar to the adult but lack the plumes. 
OBSERVATIONS. 
Readily known by the lanceolate feathers on head, neck, and breast, and pure white color as described, 
resident in Southern and Middle Florida. 
DIMENSIONS. 
Constantly 
Average measurements of specimens from Florida. Length, 29*70; stretch, 42*00; wing, 14 - 25; tail, 4*70; bill, 3*95; 
tarsus, 5*45. Longest specimen, 30*35; greatest extent of wing, 54*50; longest wing, 15*50; tail, 5*60; bill, 4*25; tarsus 
5*75. Shortest specimen, 27*50; smallest extent of wing, 48*00; shortest wing, 13*00; tail, 4*00; bill, 3*60; tarsus, 4*90. 
DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 
Nests, placed on trees and composed of sticks, somewhat loosely arranged. Eyys, two to four in number, varying 
from elliptical to oval in form, pale bluish-green in color, unspotted. Dimensions from 1*50 x 2*05 to 1*55x2*25. 
HABITS. 
Nearly all the Herons, when in full plumage, are beautiful, but to my mind, the pres¬ 
ent species surpasses them all; indeed, it would be difficult to find a more lovely bird than 
a living Peale’s Egret, and no one who has seen a specimen in good plumage, will consid¬ 
er this opinion exaggerated. I made my first acquaintance with these fine birds, on Indian 
