Part 129

Green Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 63.

Green Heron, Ardea virescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 274.

*** Bill much longer than the head, with its outline scarcely curved; legs very long, tibiæ bare to a great extent; feathers of the lower fore neck very long and tapering. Ardea and Egretta of authors.

370. 6. Ardea occidentalis, Aud. Great White Heron.

Plate CCLXXXI. Male.

Bill, tibiæ, and hind part of tarsi yellow; anterior part of the latter and toes dull green; feathers of the head elongated, lanceolate, and loose, of the back not much elongated; plumage entirely pure white.

Male, 54, 83. Female, 50, 75.

Resident in the Southern Florida Keys. Texas. Never seen to the eastward of Cape Florida, nor on the mainland. Common.

Great White Heron, Ardea occidentals, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 542; v. v. p. 596.

371. 7. Ardea Herodias, Linn. Great Blue Heron.

Plate CCXI. Male.

Bill dusky green above, yellow beneath; feet dull green, paler behind; feathers of the head long, tapering, decurved, two of them extremely elongated; very long, tapering, pointed feathers from the anterior part of the back; forehead pure white, the rest of the crest feathers bluish-black; throat white, neck pale purplish-brown, the elongated feathers beneath greyish-white, with part of the inner webs purplish-blue, forming a longitudinal band; upper parts light greyish-blue, the elongated tips of the dorsal feathers greyish-white; edge of the wing, some feathers at the base of the fore neck, and the tibial feathers, brownish-orange; two tufts of large curved feathers on the fore part of the breast bluish-black, some of them with a central stripe of white; lower surface of wings and sides light greyish-blue; elongated feathers of breast, white, their inner edge black, of the abdomen chiefly black; lower tail-coverts white, some of them with an oblique mark of black near the tip. Young in first plumage without the elongated dorsal feathers, the colours duller and tinged with brown; upper part of head streaked with white, as is the breast.

Male, 48, 72.

Resident from Texas to South Carolina. In spring migrates over the United States, and along the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of St Lawrence. Breeds everywhere. Retires southward in autumn. Common.

Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.

Ardea Herodias, Bonap. Syn. p. 304.

Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 42.

Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 87; v. v. p. 599.

372. 8. Ardea Egretta, Gmel. Great American White Egret.

Plate CCCLXXXVI. Male.

Feathers of the head scarcely elongated, those of the fore part of the back extremely long, slightly decurved, with loose filaments, and extending about ten inches beyond the tail; bill yellow; feet black; plumage pure white. Young white, the elongated feathers not fully developed until the second year, bill greenish-black.

Male, 37, 57.

Resident in Florida, and Galveston Bay in Texas. Migrates in spring sometimes as far as Massachusetts; up the Mississippi, to Natchez, Breeds in all intermediate districts. Returns south before winter. Very Abundant.

Ardea Egretta, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 629.

Great White Heron, Ardea Egretta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.

Ardea alba, Bonap. Syn. p. 304.

Ardea Egretta, Wagler, Syst. Av.

Great White Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 47.