Osteological Studies of the Sub-Fa wily A rdeinee. 3 
With the latter I shall have but little to do with in the 
present paper. They have been placed in a single genus under 
the sub-family just referred to, as constituting the genus Botaurus , 
containing our American Bittern. B. lentiginosus and B. exilis, 
the least Bittern (see a.o.u. check-list.) Coues in his last work 
divides the Ardeince into the nine genera — Ardea , Herodias , 
Dichromanassa , Hydra?iassa, Garzetta , Florida , Butorides , Nycti- 
ardea , and Nycterodius. 
The characters upon which a number of these genera rest, 
seem to me to be scarcely of sufficient importance to warrant such 
an extensive subdivision. These characters have chiefly been 
taken from the external, and in .several cases trivial differences 
existing among the forms in question. Such as the matter of 
dichromatism, some of the Herons having two color phases ; the 
presence or absence of certain feather ornaments ; and even the 
comparative lengths of parts have been resorted to, as affording 
data for such subdivisions. 
I am of the opinion that when the structure of the Herons 
comes to be better known, and is fully taken into consideration, 
many of these genera will be found to be superfluous. My ex¬ 
aminations thus far will not permit me to render a full opinion 
on this matter, but I have examined the osteology of the 
A rdeinee, with sufficient thoroughness to convince myself that 
morphologically the American forms are very closely related. 
Indeed, I believe the best ends of classification would be met if 
the present known North American types were restricted to the 
two genera Ardea and Nyctiardea , the former to include all the 
Herons proper, and the latter Night Herons. 1 
My aim in this paper is simply to present a full account of 
the osteological characters of a typical American Heron, for which 
purpose I have chosen our well-known and splendid type, Ardea 
herodias , the Great Blue Heron. As we proceed, the comparison 
with such suitable material, as is on the present occasion available, 
will in no instance be overlooked, and reference to such books 
that I may have by me of other anatomists, who have touched 
upon the structure of the group, will be made, and the results of 
their investigations fully presented. 
1 Since thismemoir was written, the Cheek-List of the American Ornithologists’ Union 
lias appeared, (1886), and I see that the Committee who had to do with the classification 
of Birds, divides the sub-familv Ardeince into the two genera Ardea and Nycticorax , which 
practically agrees with my opinions as aboved expressed, and written about a year pre¬ 
vious to the appearance of the Check-List. R. W. S. 
