Part 130

Great American Egret, Ardea Egretta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 600.

373. 9. Ardea rufescens, Gmel. Reddish Egret.

Plate CCLVI. Adult and Young.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head and of the neck generally, much elongated, very narrow, loose, with linear-acuminate compact tips; of the back extremely long, slightly recurved, with loose filaments, and extending several inches beyond the tail; bill pale flesh-colour, with the terminal third black; feet ultramarine blue, the scutella bluish-black; plumage of the head and neck light reddish-brown; back and wings greyish-blue; long train-feathers yellowish toward the end; lower parts greyish-blue, paler than the upper. Young with the plumage white, the feet dusky green, the soles yellow.

Male, 31, 46.

Resident on the Florida Keys, and in Galveston Bay. Never seen inland. Extremely abundant.

Ardea rufescens, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 628.

Peale's Egret Heron, Ardea Pealii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 96. Young.

Peak's Egret, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 49. Young.

Reddish Egret, Ardea rufescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 411; v. v. p. 604.

374. 10. Ardea cœrulea, Linn. Blue Heron.

Plate CCCVII. Male and Young.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head very long and linear; of the middle of the back extremely long, linear-acuminate, compact, their tips extending about five inches beyond the tail; bill blue; feet black; plumage of head and neck vinaceous purple, of the other parts deep greyish-blue. Young with the plumage white, becoming patched with blue as they advance in age.

Male, 24-1/2, 42.

Resident in Florida and Texas, where it breeds. In spring migrates as far as Long Island; up the Mississippi to a hundred miles above Natchez. Never seen far inland.

Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 117.

Ardea cœrulea, Bonap. Syn. p. 300.

Blue Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 58.

Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 58.

375. 11. Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Louisiana Heron.

Plate CCXVII. Male.

Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated, tapering, curved, about six of them larger and much longer; of the back extremely elongated, with loose threadlike filaments, extending beyond the tail; bill brownish-black above, yellow beneath; feet light greenish-yellow, with the scutella dusky; general colour of upper parts light purplish-blue; elongated feathers of head and neck above, reddish-purple, as are those of the lower part of the neck; six longest feathers of head white; elongated loose feathers of back dull purplish-yellow; throat white, its lower part chestnut; a line of white down the fore neck; rump and lower parts pure white, except the anterior feathers of the breast, which have their inner webs dusky blue. Young with the neck and fore part of the back light brownish-red; throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the back; quills, larger wing-coverts and tail light purplish-blue. Plumage and colouring completed at the end of the second year.

Male, 27, 37.

Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it is abundant. Migrates eastward to New Jersey, where it is rare; up the Mississippi to Natchez. Never seen far inland.

Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 13.

Ardea Ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn. p. 305.

Louisiana Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 51.

Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 136; v. v. p. 605.