676 
U. S. P. R. R. EXP. AND SURVEYS-ZOOLOGY—GENERAL REPORT 
BUTORIDES, Blyt.h. 
Butorides, “ Blyth, 1849. Type Ardea javanica, Horsf.” 
Ocniscus, Cabanis, Journal fur Orn. IV, 1856, 343. Type Jirdea virescens, Lin. 
Ch. —Bill acute, rather longer than the head, gently curved from the base above ; gonys slightly ascending. Legs very short ; 
tarsi scarcely longer than the middle toe ; broadly scutellate anteriorly. Lateral toes nearly equal. Head with elongated feathers 
above and behind ; these are well defined, lanceolate, as are the interscapulars and scapulars ; the latter not exceeding the tertials. 
Neck short; bare behind inferiorly. Tibia feathered nearly throughout. Tail of twelve feathers. 
This genus is not represented in Europe, although species occur in Asia, Africa, Australia, 
and Oceanica. But one is found in the United States ; a second species belongs to South America, 
(B. scapularis,) distinguished most easily by the neck being ash-colored, instead of dark purplish 
chestnut. 
Comparative measurements of Nycticoraceae. 
Catal. 
No. 
Species. 
Locality. 
o 
fee 
C3 
<2 
s 
Ul 
1 
Length. 
Stretch of 
wings. 
Wing. 
Tail. 
Tarsus. 
Middle toe. 
Its claw 
alone. 
Hind toe 
and claw. 
Hind claw 
alone. 
Bill above. 
Along gape. 
Specimen 
measured. 
9491 
15.00 
7.50 
2.76 
2.05 
2.10 
0 34 
1.00 
0.44 
2.10 
2 94 
7068 
7.20 
2.92 
2.15 
2.26 
0.40 
0.94 
0.52 
2.46 
3.20 
Skin. 
18.25 
21.00 
7.50 
1126 
Or? 
15.50 
7.50 
2.88 
2.00 
2.12 
0.32 
0.86 
0.46 
2.14 
2 70 
298 
a 
14.80 
7.50 
3.14 
1.92 
2.00 
0.40 
0.86 
0.50 
2.46 
3.10 
1670 
23.00 
12.90 
5.10 
3.16 
3.33 
0.50 
1.40 
0.93 
3.10 
4.06 
4148 
O 
13.50 
5.20 
3.14 
3.26 
0.54 
1.30 
0.88 
2.88 
3.76 
31.75 
42.50 
12.75 
5564 
s 
28.00 
12.50 
5.46 
3.30 
3.78 
0.66 
1.56 
0.92 
3.30 
4.48 
3041 
s 
12.00 
5.20 
3.72 
2.88 
0.40 
2.19 
0.88 
2.78 
3.28 
23.40 
40.50 
12.20 
Fresh ... 
3836 
11.70 
5.00 
3.70 
2.72 
0.44 
1.92 
0.89 
2.78 
3.42 
40.50 
23.00 
10.00 
BUTORIDES VIRESCENS, Bonap. 
Green Heron; Fly-up-the-creek. 
Arden virescens, Linn. Syst. Nat. 1, 1766, 238.— 6m. I, 1788, 635.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, 1813, 97 ; pi. lxi.— 
Ord’s ed. p. 102.— Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 190.— Wagler, Syst. Av. 1827 ; Arden, No. 36.— Aud. 
Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 274 ; pi. 333.— Ib. Syn. 264.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 105 ; pi. 367. 
Arden ( Bolaurus) virescens, Bon. Specchio Comp. No. 180 .—Ib. Syn. 307.— Nutt. II, 1834, 63. 
Ilerodias virescens, Bon. List, 1838 .—Gosse, Birds Jam. 1847, 340. 
Egretta virescens, Swainson, 2| Centen. 1838. No. 156. 
Butorides virescens, Bonap. Conspectus Av. II, 1855, 128. 
Agamia virescens, Reichenb. leones Avium. 
Ocniscus virescens, Cabanis, Journ. IV, 1856, 343. Cuba. 
“ Ardea chloroptera, Bodd.” 1784. Gray. 
Arden ludovicinna, Gmelin, I, 1788, 630. 
“ Ardea torquata, Mill. Illust. pi. lx.” Gray. 
Green Heron, Pennant, II, 447. 
Sp. Ch. —Top of head and body above are glossy green ; the coverts edged with brownish yellow. Neck dark purplish 
chestnut. Chin and central line of throat white. Body beneath plumbeous ash. Length, 15.00 ; wing, 7.50; tarsus, 2.00 ; 
bill above, 2.40. 
Hib ,—United States generally. 
BiR stout ; culmen much compressed, gently convex towards the tip; gonys ascending. Tarsi 
shorter than the middle toe, covered behind and on the sides with small hexagonal scales. 
Lateral toes about equal. Lower fourth only of tibia bare. Head with a crest of long, lanceo- 
