HARVARD UNIVERSITY Library of the Museum of Comparative Zoology V . \t THE WATER BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. VOL. I. iHcmoirs of tlje iEuscum of Coinparatitic xoolocjg AT HARVARD COLLEGE. Vol. XII. THE WAT ER BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. BY S. F. BAIRD, T. M. BREWER, AND R. RIDGWAY. ISSUED IN CONTINUATION OF THE PUBLICATIONS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CALIFORNIA. J. D. WHITNEY, State Geologist. Volume I. BOSTON: LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. 1884. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1884, By J. D. Whitney, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. CONTENTS. INTKODUCTION SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AIMEEICAN ORDEKS OF WATER BIRDS Order HERODIOXES Family Aedeid.e. The Herons ........ Sub-Family Ardeix.e . Sub-Family Botaukix.t: Family Cicoxud.e. The Storks Sub-Family Cicoxiin-^ Sub-Family Taxtalix.e Family Ibidid.e. The Ibises ........ Sub-Family Eudocimix^e ....... Family Plataleid.e. The SpoonbilLj '■. .... Order LIMICOL.E Family HiEMATOPODiD.E. The Oyster-catchers .... Family Strepsilid.e. The Turnstones ...... Family Charadkiid.i:. The Plovers Family PApaiiD.?^. The Ja(;anas ....... Family Scolopacid.t:. The Snipes, Sandpijiers, etc. . Family PhalapvOpodid.i^. The Phalaropes ..... Family Eecurvirostrid£e. The Avocets and Stilts . Order ALECTORIDES Family Rallid.e. The Rails, Gallinules, and Coots . Family Aramtd.e. The Courlans ....... Family Gruid.t:. The Cranes ....... Order PHCEXICOPTERI Family Phcexkopterid.e. The Flamingoes .... Order AXSERES {not comphded in this vohtnie) ..... Family Ax-atid.t:. The Swans, Geese, and Ducks Sub-Family Ctgntx^ ... ... Sub-Family Axserix^e Sub-Family Axatix.e ........ Page vii x-xi . 1-106 2-76 . 4-66 66-76 . 76-85 78-80 . 80-85 85-100 86-100 100-106 107-349 108-118 118-128 128-175 175-177 178-325 325-339 340-349 350-413 350-398 398-403 403-413 414-418 414-418 419-537 419-537 420-433 433^87 487-537 INTRODUCTION. As this work will in all probability fall into the hands of those who have not seen the ornithological volume issued as a part of the Publications of the State Geological Survey of California, it is proper that the origin and connection of these two contributions to this branch of American natural history should be here explained. The Act authorizing a geological survey of the State of California, which became a law in 1860, required of the State Cleologist, in addition to the topographical and geological work usually expected on such a survey, " a full and complete description of the botanical and zoological productions of Cali- fornia." In accordance with this requirement, the efforts of the head of the Survey were, from the time of the beginning of the work, directed toward the collection of such material as would be of value for use in the preparation of Eeports in the various departments of the natural history of California and the adjacent regions of the Pacific coast. The establishment of a State museum of geology and natural history was also contemplated -^ although not provided for. — in the Act authorizing the Survey, as supplementary to the preparation of such Reports on the various branches of science as should make possible the stuuy of geology, botany, and zoology in the schools and colleges of California and the adjacent States and Territories. The Survey as thus organized went on without interruption until 1868, when appropriations were withheld for two years ; but the work was not brought to an absolute stoppage, all the materials having been left in the hands of the State Geologist, without any direction as to what was to be done with them, and also without any appropriation of money to pay either for the care and preservation of collections then on hand, or for the contmuation of publications at that time actually in progress. Nevertheless the work did go on ; and among the volumes completed during the stoppage of the Survey was one on which considerable progress had been made at the time the appropriations were suspended. This volume belonged to the Vlll INTKODUCTION. Natural History Series, and was devoted to a description of the Land Birds occur- ring west of the Eocky ]\Iountains and north of jMexico, having been selected as the volume most suitable to succeed those of (leology and Paleontology already published, partly because it was thought that the subject would prove popularly attractive, and partly Ijecause circumstances favored its being more rapidly completed than the other volumes of the Natural History Series possibly could be. For the volume of Land Birds published in 1870 by the California Survey, the biographical portion was chiefly drawn from the notes of Dr. J. G. Cooper, Zoologist of the Survey ; and by mutual consent these notes were placed in the hands of Professor Baird, at that time in charge of the Natural History Depart- ment of the Smithsonian Institution, in order that they might be worked up at the place where a more copious supply of materials and greater facilities for such an undertaking existed than at any other scientific centre in this country. The result was the publication, in 1870, of a volume entitled : " Ornithol- ogy. Volume I. The Land Birds." It was illustrated by nearly eight hundred woodcuts, each species (except in the case of the Baptores] being represented by a head of life size, introduced with the text, and intended to be colored by hand, and each genus by a full-length figure, together with numerous diagrams giving the details of wings, claws, and such other parts as are of special value in generic determination. During the preparation of this ornithological volume of the California series of Eeports, it was agreed between the State Geologist and Professor Baird that the illustrations of that volume should be used by him in a work of larger scope, including the Land Birds of all North America; and this plan was carried out, the result being the well-known work, in three volumes, entitled "A History of North American Birds : Land Birds," by Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Ptidgway. This work — completed m 1875 — followed closely the California volume in its general style, appearance, and manner of illustration ; the principal exception to this being that the heads were placed together at the end of each volume, and printed by the chromolithographic process, mstead of being colored by hand. For these volumes between seven and eight hundred illustrations were furnished by the California Survey without charge — Professor Baird having promised, m return for this favor, that the portion of the Ornithology remaining to be completed and published as a part of the California Keport should include all the Water Birds of the continent north of Mexico. The propriety of this stipulation must be evident to all, since it was clear that, after the appearance of the work of Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Eidgway, there would be only the most limited demand for the much less comprehensive one previously issued by the California Survey. INTRODUCTIUN. ix As it turned out, however, this stipulation was not one of so much practical importance as had been expected, since the cost of the publication of the " Land Birds of North America " "^vas so great that the publishers of that work would have been unwilling to continue it at their own risk and expense — and, in fact, did decline to do so, when, after the stoppage of the California Survey, the present work was offered to them for publication by joint consent of the authors and tlie former State Geologist of California. The latter, however, having devoted himself, subsequently to the second and final stoppage of the Survey in 1874, to a continuation — chiefly at his own risk and expense — of the publication of the material left in a more or less fragmentary condition in his hands, finally concluded to take up the unfinished volumes of Ornithology; and, with the generous co-operation of the Director of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, now presents them to the public, as forming at the same time a portion of the series of Memoirs of that institution, and a continuation of the Eeports of the Geological Survey of California. As in the previously pubHshed volumes of the North American Birds, the technical or descriptive portion of the present division of that work has been prepared by Messrs. Baird and Eidgway ; and the latter has had the opportunity of making, during the prmting, such additions and corrections as were rendered necessary by the fact that several years have elapsed since the manuscript was origmally prepared for puljlication. The biographical portion of the volumes devoted to the Water Birds is from the pen of Dr. T. M. Brewer — who, however, did not live to see the beginning of the printing of this, the final, portion of a work on which he had bestowed so much labor. The task of revising his not entirely completed manuscript has fallen upon the undersigned, who has endeavored to do the best he could with it, esjiecially as regards the occasion- ally somewhat uncertain orthography of the names of persons and places. In this he has had the assistance of Mr. J. A. Allen, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. The illustrations of this volume were, with few and unimportant exceptions, drawn upon the wood by Mr. Edwin L. Sheppard, of Philadelphia, and engraved by Mr. Hobart H. Nichols, of Washington. The coloring of the heads was done under the direction of Mrs. F. H. Kussell, of Brookline, Mass., from patterns prepared by Mr. Ridgway. J. D. WHITNEY. Cambridge, Mass., March 31, 1884. SYNOPSIS OF NORTH AMERICAN ORDERS OF WATER BIRDS. A. Legs lengthened, the tibise usually denuded for a considerable distance above the knee. Toes not fully webbed, except in Becurvirostra and Pha,nicopterus. (Waders.) I. HERODIONES. Neck and legs much lengthened. Hind toe much lengthened, and inserted at the same level as the anterior toes (shorter and slightly elevated in Ciconiidce). Habits altricial ^ and young dasypaedic."^ Palate desmognathous. Carotids double. II. LIMICOL.a3. Neck and legs usually elongated (the latter sometimes excessively so), the tibise usually more or less naked below. Hind toe short or rudimentary, sometimes absent, and inserted above the level of the anterior toes. Habits prtecocial,^ and young dasypEfidic. Palate .'^chizognathous. Carotids double. ' III. ALECTORIDES. Hind toe small and elevated (Ijut iieck much lengthened and bill .strong and hard) in Gruida! ; lengthened and incumbent in Aramidm and Rallidce. Wings comparatively short and rounded, and body compressed (except in Gh-uidw). Habits prsecocial, and young dasypeedic. Palate schizognathous. Carotids double. IV. PHCENICOPTERI. Neck and legs excessively elongated, the anterior toes webbed, and the tibise naked for the greater part of their length. Hind toe small and elevated, or wholly absent. Bill of very peculiar f(jrm, being greatly thickened and abruptly bent downward from the middle portion, the tomia provided with lamellte, as in the Anseres. Habits pr^cocial and young dasypsedic. Palate saurognathous. Carotids double, but the left much reduced in size. B. Legs short, the tibiiE wholly or mostly feathered. Anterior toes distinctly (usually fully) webbed, or else broadly lobed and provided with broad flat nails (Podicipidce). (Swimmers.) V. ANSERES. Bill broad and depressed (nearly cylindrical in Mergince), the tip provided with a distinct nail or unguis, and the tomia with vertical lamellaj or strainers (more tooth-like in Mergince). Habits prtecocial, young dasypsedic. Palate saiu-ognathous. Carotids double. ^ Altricial huds are those whose young are hatched in a l)lind and lielpless condition, and are reared in the nest until able to fly. 2 Young birds which are covered with down when liatched are said to be dasypaedic ; e. g., chicks of the Domestic Fowl and other gallinaceous birds, ducklings, etc. 3 Prfficocial birds are those whose young are capable of ruiming about as soon as hatched, and although led and otherwise cared for by the parents, are not fed by them ; e. ). The Water Birds most nearly related structin-ally to the present group are the Steganojoodes, — Pelicans, Cormorants, Gannets, and their allies, — which are likewise both desmognathous and altricial; and what is an important fact in 1 An analysis of tlie Orders of Water Birds is given on pages x, xi. VOL. I. — 1 2 ALTRICIAL GPtALLATORES — HERODIONES. this connection is tlie circumstance that, besides being altricial, they are, with very few exceptions, also decidedly arboreal, most of them even placing their nests on trees. They are all swimmers, however, instead of being strictly or in part waders. Without discussing further the characters which distinguish this ''order," we proceed to deiine the families into which it seems most naturally divisible. Synopsis of the American Herodionine Families. A. Pteryloe very narrow, interspersud with " i)owder-clo\vu " tracts. Hallux perfectly incumbent ; inner edge of middle claw distinctly pectinated. {Herodiones anleiformes, :^ Herodii, SuNDEV. Metli. Nat. Av. Disp. Tent. 1872, 122.) 1. Cancromidae. Four ]iaiis nt powder-down tracts. Bill greatly depressed and excessively dilated laterally, the lateral outlines much bowed ; gonys excessively short, not longer than the width of the mandibular rami. 2. Ardeidae. Two to three pairs of })o\vder-do\vn tracts. Bill compressed, elongate-conical, the lateral outlines straight or even a little concave ; the vertical outlines nearly straight, slightly convex ternuually ; gonys lengthened, several times longer than the width of the mandibular rami. B. Pteryhx! broad, without powder-down tracts. Hallux elevated at the base above the base of the anterior toes ; inner edge of middle claw not pectinated ; claics resting wpon a Jioniji, crescentic ^' shoe." {Herodiones ciconiiformes, = Pelarc/i, Sundev, Meth. Nat. Av. Disp. Tent. 1872, 12:3.) a. Sides of the maxilla without any trace of lateral groove. Skull holorhinal. Angle of the mandible truncated. Pedoralis major muscle in two easily separable layers. No accessory femoro-caudul muscle; semitendinosus muscle tendinous for its distal half; hice2)s cubiti and tensor imicujii lonfjus muscles unconnected. (Garrod, P. Z. S. 1875, 301.) 3. Ciconiidae. Bill elongate-conical, either straight or curved a little up or down at the end. h. Sides of the maxilla with a deep, narrow grocjve, extending uninterruptedly from the nasal fossae to the extreme tip of the bill. Skull schizorhinal. Angle of the mandible i^ro- duced and decurved. Pectoralis major muscle simple (not separable into distinct layers) ; accessory femoro-camlal muscle well developed ; semitendinosus muscle musciilar through- out ; biceps cubiti and tensor 'patarjii longiis muscles connected by a small muscular " belly." (Garrod.) 4. Ibididae. Bill slender, attenuated terminally, nearly cylindrical or somewhat compressed, conspicuously decurved, or arched above. 5. Plataleidae. Bill very broad, excessively depressed and greatly expanded terminally, much narrowed across the middle portion, the extreme tip only much decurved. In addition to the above well-defined families, all of which have American representatives, Avhile one (Cancromidci') is peculiarly American, there are sev- eral others which probably belong to the Jleroclioiies, but which, excepting the Eurypyghhi; (Sun Bitterns), are peculiar to the Old World, and may therefore be passed by without further notice. Family ARDEID^. — The Herons. Char. Altricial waders having tlio bill compressed, pointed, all the outlines nearly straight ; the lores and orbits naked ; the rest of the head (except, some- times, the malar region, or part of the throat) feathered, the occiput frequently with ornamental plumes. Lower part of the neck, back, or scapulars, fre- AilDEID.E — THE HERONS. 3 quently with ornamental plumes. Plumage generally handsome and variegated. Two to three pairs of powder-down tracts. Other characters variable. The Herons are among the most widely diffused of birds, one species, our common Night Heron {X>jctlcorax griseus), being nearly or quite cosmopolitan. Many of the Old World forms have not been examined in the present connection, but there is good reason for believing that the number of sub-families here recognized as represented in America can be consistently increased. Sub-tamily Ardeinae. Outer toe equal to, or decidedly longer than, the inner. Claws usually short, generally strongly curved. Three pairs of powder-down tracts. Rectrices lengthened, stiffi.sh, twelve in nuudjer (except in Zebrilus). Sub-family Botaurinae. Outer toe decidedly shorter than the inner. Claws long, slender, slightly curved. Two pairs only of powder-down tracts. Rectrices very short, soft, only ten in number. Synopsis of American Genera.^ a. Sub-family ARDEINAE. — The True Herons. A. Eectrices twelve; tibice icith the lower fortion more or less naked, a. Pectoral and inguinal powder-down tracts widely separated. §. Malar region completely feathered (except in Pilherodius, where anterior part is bare). Bill shorter than the tarsus and middle toe (usually shorter thaii, or about eipial to, the tarsus). 1. Ardea. Size very large. Adult with scapular plumes elongated, narrowly-lanceolate, and with compact webs ; in the breeding season, the occiput with two long, slender, compact- webbed, pendant plumes. Color mainly plumbeous- or slate-blue (rarely — e. g. white phase of A. occidentalis — wholly pui'e white). Culmen shorter than the middle toe. 2. Herodias. Size large, but smaller than the species of the preceding genus. Adult with the scapular plumes greatly elongated, reaching far beyond the end of the tail, the shafts thick and rigid, the we1)S decomposed, hair-like, and distant. Color entirely pure white. 3. Garzetta. Size small. Adult with occipital, jugular, and scapular plumes, the latter reaching to or a little beyond the end of the tail ; the shafts moderately rigid, and re- curved terminally ; the webs decomposed, with long, hair-like, but not distant hbres Other plumes varying in structure, according to the species. Color entirely pure white. 4 Dichromanassa. Size medium. Adult with the feathers of the entire head and neck, excepting the throat and foreneck, elongated, linear, lanceolate, and stiffish, most elon- gated on the occiput and jugulum. Scapular plumes extending beyond end of tail ; the shafts rigid, the webs decomposed, with rather close, hair-like fibrillar. Color wholly pure white, or plumbeous, with or without reddish neck. Tarsus twice as long as middle toe. _ 5. Hydranassa. Size medium. Adult with an occipital tuft of several elongated, lanceolate white feathers. Jugular feathers broadly lanceolate, with distinct outlines. Scapular plumes hair-like, extending a little beyond the tail. Color mainly plumbeous, with lower parts and rump white. Bill longer than tarsus. 6. Florida. Size small. Adult with scapular plumes eloni^^ated, extending to or beyond end of tail, linear-lanceolate, with compact webs ; jugular plumes similar ; occipital plumes hair-like, a few of them much elongated. Color pure white, with bluish tips to outer primaries, dark slate-blue with maroon-colored head and neck, or variously " patched " with blue and white. 7. Butorides. Size small. Adult with scapular plumes elongated, compact- webbed, lance- olate, but with rounded tips. Feathers of the pileum elongated, lanceolate. Jugular plumes broad, blended. Culmen longer than tarsus ; middle toe almost equal to tarsus. Color much variegated. 1 The genera enclosed in brackets are extralimital. 4 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — IIERODIONES. 8. [Syrigma.] Size mediuiii. Adult with several elongated, narrow, compact-webbed, round- tipped, somewhat rigid and slightly recurved plumes on lower part of occiput. Jugular feathers soft, broad, blended. No scapular plumes. Culmeii about ec^ual to middle toe. Color much variegated, the tail and lower parts white. 9. [Pilherodius.] Size medium. Orbits and anterior part of malar region naked. Occiput with two extremely elongated linear, compact-webbed plumes. Jugular plumes broad, blended. No scapular plumes. Color white, the crown and occiput black. Middle toe shorter than culmen ; culmen shorter than tarsus. 10. Nycticorax. Size medium. Adult with several e.xtremely elongated linear, compact- webbed occipital plumes. No scapular plumes. Jugular feathers broad, blended. Cul- men about equal to tarsus ; tarsus slightly longer than middle toe. Lateral outlines of bill concave ; gonys nearly straight. Adult and young exceedingly different in plumage. 11. Nyctherodius. Size medium. Adult with several extremely elongated linear, compact- webbed occipital plumes. Scapular plumes elongated, narrow, round-tipped, the webs somewhat decomposed. Jugular feathers broad, blended. Culmen much shorter than tarsus (a little longer than middle toe) ; tarsus much longer than middle toe. Color much variegated. Lateral outlines of the bill straight ; gonys very convex. Adult and young exceedingly different in plumage. ^. Malar region entirely naked. Bill longer than tarsus and middle toe. 12. [Agamia.] Size medium. Bill extremely elongated, narrow, and compressed. Adidt with greatly elongated, broadly lanceolate, acute occipital plumes ; lower back with simi- lar, but more loosely webbed, plumes overhanging rump. Sides of neck with recurved, sickle-shaped, narrow, and acute plumes. Jugular feathers broad, blended. Tarsus nearly twice middle toe. b. Pectoral and inguinal lyowder-doivn tracts united, into a continuous strip. 13. [Tigrisoma.] Malar region and throat naked, the latter with or without a medial feath- ered strip. Tarsus with hexagonal scutellce in front. Outer toe longer than inner ; claws short, strongly curved. Plumage much variegated ; feathers of neck loose, " flufty." B. Eectrices ten. Tibia; with the lower portion completely feathered. Pectoral and hujuinal poxoder- down tracts widely separated. Malar region completely feathered. 14. [Zebrilus.] Size very small (among the smallest of Herons). Plumage exceedingly lax and " fluffy." Bill and feet very small. Culmen about equal to tarsus, both longer than middle toe ; outer toe longest. Plumage dull, with transverse undulations of dusky and light fulvous. ^o' h. Sub-family BOTAURIN/E. — Tiik Bitterns. 15. Botaurus. Size medium, or rather large. Sexes similar ; young similar to adult. 16. Ardetta. Size extremely small (the smallest of Herons). Sexes dissimilar (in all species ?) ; young slightly different from adult. Genus ARDEA, Linn^us. Ardea, LiNX. S. N. I. 1735; cd. 12, I. 1766, 23-3 (type, A. cincrca, LiNN.). Auduhonia, Bonap. Consp. II. 1855, 113 (type, Ardea occidcntalis, Aud.). Char. Herons of largest size (of Stork-like stature), the adults distinguished by lengthened, narrowly-lanceolate, acute jugular and scapular plumes (the former rather rigid, the latter over- hanging the wings and rump) ; a tuft of Itroad feathers on each side the breast (having a different color from adjacent parts), and, m the breeding season, by the presence of two or three extremely lengthened, narrow, pendant, occipital plumes. Culmen almost straight ; gonys ascending, more or less convex, about equal in length to the man- dibular rami ; upper and lower outlines of the bill parallel for the basal half. Mental apex anterior to half-way between point of bill and anterior angle of the eye ; frontal apex a little posterior to ARDEID.E - THE HERONS — ARDEA. 5 the nostrils and slightly anterior to the malar apex.^ Middle toe more than half the tarsus, and about equal to bare portion of tibia ; outer toe reaching to about the middle of the penultimate phalanx of the middle toe ; inner toe decidedly shorter, reaching only to the second articulation of the middle toe ; hallux a little longer than the basal phalanx of the outer toe ; claws rather short. A. herodias strongly curved. Front of tarsus with broad, transverse scutella), in single series, for upper half. Pileum crested, the feathers of the crown and occiinxt being elongated, lanceolate, and decurved. Primaries reaching decidedly beyond tertials. Second, third, and fourth quills nearly equal, and longest ; first longer than fifth ; inner webs of outer three slightly sinuated near ends. Synopsis of the American Species.^ Com. Char. Above bluish-plumbeous, the penicillate scapular plumes more hoary ; remiges and rectrices slate-color. Lower parts longitudinally striped with black and white. Young with- out any plumes, and with the colors much duller, the pattern badly defined. A. Tibice and border of the wing purplish-cinnamon or rufous. 1. A. occideutalis. Pileum and occipital plumes, with rest of head, white ; forehead streaked with black. Somctivics ichole plumage pure white! Culmen, 6.40-6.75; tarsus, 8.00- 8.75 ; wing, 19.00-21.00. Hah. Florida to Southern Illinois ; Cuba ; Jamaica. 2. A. Wardi. Similar to A. occidentalism the white phase apparently undistinguishable, but colored phase combining the head-pattern of A. herodias with light-colored under-parts and large size of " Wilrdemanni." Culmen, 6.50-7.00 ; tarsus, 8.50-9.00 ; wing, 20.00- 20.50. Hnh. Southwestern Florida. 3. A. herodias. Pileum and occipital plumes Uack ; forehead and central feathers of the crown white ; culmen, 4.30-6.25 ; tarsus, 6.00-8.25 ; wing, 17.90-20.00. Hah. North America in general ; Middle America ; Galapagos ; Venezuela ; West Indies. 1 The terms "mental apex," "malar apex,'" and "frontal apex" are here employed to denote the apices, or points, of the feathering of the head at the base of the bill. 2 Of the exotic species properly referable to this genus, we have seen only A. ]mrpurea, Linn. (Euro- pean). This seems to be strictly congeneric as to details of form, except that the claws are much length- ened ; but it has a very different system of coloration. 6 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIOXES. B> Tihirr and border of the vnng vhife. 4. A. cinerea. Pileiini and occii)ital plume>5 black ; forehead and centre of crown white (as in A. herodi(is). Neck cinereous. Culraen, 4.80 ; tarsus, 6.00-6.25 ; wing, 18.50. Hab. Europe, etc. Accidental in Southern Greenland. [5. A. cocoi.1] Entire pileum (including forehead, etc.) and occipital plumes black. Neck white. Culiuen, 5.85-6.75 ; tarsus, 7.20-8.00 ; wing, 18.50-19.50. Hab. South America. Ardea occidentalis. THE GREAT WHITE HERON ; WtJRDEM ANN'S HERON. a. JVhitc })hasc. Ardca occidentalis, Aud. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 542; V. 1839, 596; Synop. 1839, 264; B. Am. VI. 1843, 110, pi. 308. — CouES, Key, 1872, 267 ; Check List, 1873, no. 451 ; 2d ed. 1882, no. 656.— SCL. k Salv. Nom. Neotr. 1873, 125. — Ridgw. Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey Terr. IV. no. 1, 1878, 227 (critical). — Ridgw. Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 486. Auduhonia occidentalis, Bonap. Consp. II. 1S55, 113. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 670; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 489. b. Colored jjJiase, Ardea Wilrdemannii, Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 669; ed. 1860, pi. 86 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 488. — CoUES, Key, 1872, 267 ; Check List, 1873, no. 450. TTab. The " Austroriparian " region ^ of eastern North America, from Florida to Southern Illinois (Wabash River) ; Jamaica. Sp. Char. {a. IVhite phase, ^ occidentalis, A.\jD.). ^f?«/;; Entire plumage pure white. "Bill yellow, the upper mandible dusky gTeen at the base ; loral space yellowish-green ; orbital space light blue ; iris bright yellow. Tilna and hind part of tarsus yellow ; fore part of tibia [tarsus ?] olivaceous ; sides of latter greenish yellow ; claws light brown" (Audubon, I. c.).^ Young : Simi- lar in color to the adult, but destitute of any plumes. 1 Ardea cocoi, Linn. Ardea cocoi, Linn. S. N. I, 1766, 237. — Bonap. Consp. II. 1855, 110. —Gray, Hand-list, IIL 1871, 27, no. 10103. —ScL. & Salv. Nom. Neotr. 1873, 125. — Boucard, Cat. Av. 1876, 49, no. 1372. — KiDGW. Bull. U. S. Geol. k Geog. Survey Terr. IV. no. 1, 1878, 244 (critical). Ardea fuscicollis, Vieill. Nouv. Diet. XIV. 1817, 410. Ardea soco, Vieill. t. c. 423 (ex Lath.). i Ardea major, Fraser, P. Z S. 1843, 116 (Chili). Ardea plumhea, Merrem. Ersch. Gruber's Encycl. V. 1820, 177. — Reiciienow, J. F. 0. 1877, 264. Ardea maguari, Si'ix, Av. Bras. II. 1825, 171. Ardca palliata, "Illig." Wagl. Syst. Av. 1827, Ardea sp. 2. 2 From the fact of this species having been observed at ]\Iouiit Carmcl, Illinois, on several occasions, it is inferred that its range nwy comprehend the Austroriparian region, or Louisianian fauna in general, although probably nowhere common, except in parts of Florida. ' The following measurements are given by Audubon : — ^ : "Lengtli to end of tail, 54 inches ; to end of wings, 54 ; to end of claws, 70 ; extent of wings, 83; ARDEID^ — THE HEROXS — ARDEA. 7 b. Blue phase (^ " JFiirdemanni," Baird). Adult: Entire lieail, indmliiig occipital crest, pure white ; the forehead streaked with Idack (the feathers edged with hhick, tlie median stripe being white). Abdomen and crissum pure white, the former sparsely streaked with bhick (these streaks on the inner edge of the feathers, and broader anteriorly) ; crissum immacuhite. Neck deep viohiceous-ihab ((Uirker and more violaceous than in A. herodias, and ending almost abruptly against the white of the head) ; the throat with a narrow- series of black and rufous dashes on a white ground ; plumes of the lower neck white, most of them edged witli black, but the longer without grayish tinge. Lateral jugular tufts blue-black, with wide median stripes of pure white. Upper parts exactly as in A. herodias, except that the lower wing-coverts have conspicuous median streaks of white, while the edge of the wing from the carpus back is vhite, tinged with rafous, instead of wholly rufous. Tibial feathers paler rufous than in A. herodias, growing almost wliite next the body on the inner side. Naked tibiae yellow; under side ol toes ijelloiv ; rest of legs and ieet yellowish-olive. Young: Similar to young of A. herodias, but lesser wing-coverts widely tipped with bright ferruginous, producing thereby a conspicuous spotting of this color ; all the lower wing-coverts, large and small, with a large, terminal, wedge- shaped spot of white. Forehead and crown dusky slate-C(dor, most of the feathers with whitish shafts ; occipital plumes all whitish at the base, only the ends being dusky. "Wing, 21.00 ; tail, 8.00 ; culmen, 6.45 ; depth of bill (through middle of nostrils), 1.15; naked portion of tibia, 5.50 ; tarsus, 8.00 ; miproaeli it, though not very near. On being teased it seemed to submit, as if well acquainted with its oppressor. These Herons came from the south, were evidently strangers, and moved on toward the north. The young bird was the last to leave, but soon followed its companions. Ardea Wardi. WARD'S GREAT BLUE HERON. Ardea Wardi, RiDOW. Bull. Nutt. Orn. Club, Vol. VII. No. 1, January, 1882, p. 5 (Oyster Bay, Soutli- western Florida). Sp. Char. Colored phase exactly like A. IViirdemanni (= dark phase of ^. occidentalis ?), but with the head colored as in A. herodias. Differing from herodias in much larger size (culmen, 1 Mr. Moore's observatious in respect to this matter do not correspond at all with the experience of others. His inferences are doubtless incorrect, and the birds he saw were in all probability A. " Wiirdc- rannni " and A. Wardi. — R. R. ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — ARDEA. 11 6.50-7.00 inches ; tarsus, 8.50-9.00 inches), lighter general coloration, and (in dried skin) light brown instead of black legs. Dichromatic ; the white phase being indistinguishable from that of A. occidentalis {'). Adult i (Xo. 82,329, U. S. Nat. Mus., Oyster Bay, Florida, March, 1881 ; Charles W. Ward) : Head white, with the sides of the crown and entire occiput (including the lengthened plumes) deep black ; neck lavender-gray (much lighter than in the type of JFiirdemanni), the fore-neck white, thickly streaked with black for the lower two thirds ; jugular plumes chiefly white, their lengthened tapering portion entirely so. Upper surface uniform bluish plumbeous, the lengthened scapular plumes hoary whitish or pale silvery gray. Upper breast uniform black ; abdoiuen and lower breast white, rather indistinctly streaked with dark gray ; anal region mixed black and white, in longitudinal dashes (the black rather predominating) ; crissum immaculate pure white. Tibiaj uniform light cinnamon ; edge of the wing (especially near the l)end) deeper ciimaraon, but this much mixed with white toward the bases of the tjuills ; lining of the wing, axillars, sides, and flanks, uniform plumbeous. Bill, apparently, entirely olivaceous-yellow ; naked portion of tibiae very pale brown (evidently yellowish or flesh-colored in life) ; tarsi light brown (olivaceous in life ?), darker in front ; toes light brown. Wing, 20.50 ; culmen, 6.75 ; depth of bill through nostril, 1.10 ; tarsu.s, 8.75 ; middle toe, 5.10 ; naked portion of tibia), 5.50. Mr. W. H. Collins, of Detroit, who kindly presented the specimen described above to the Na- tional Museum, has sent measurements of two other specimens, one in his own possession, the other mounted for Mr. Ward. As may be seen below, they agree closely in dimensions with the type, their measurements being, respectively, wing, 20.00-20.50 ; culmen, 6.50-7.00 ; depth of Ijill through nostril, 1.25 ; tarsus, 8.75-9.00; middle toe, 5.25-5.45 ; naked portion of tibia, 5.75-6.00. The following facts in relation to this apparently distinct species or race of large Heron is substantially the same as that printed in the original account cited above. The specimens described were obtained by Mr. Charles AV. Ward, of Pontiac, Mich- igan, who spent several weeks at the breeding-grounds of the bird in question, and was thus enabled to make many very interesting observations on its habits, etc. Mr. Ward's memoranda, which are especially interesting in connection with the question of Ardea occidentalis, Aud., and A. Wilrdemunni, Baird, are as follows : — " My observations of the Herons during the past season do not correspond with those of Mr. iST. B. Moore, as recorded on page 232 of your article,^ in regard to their feeding habits. I found them generally living in communities, roosting, nesting, and feeding togetlier, like Pigeons, and often observed flocks of the Little White, Keddish, and other Egrets, feeding together like Teal Ducks. Two specimens of A. occidentalis were seen feeding quietly within twenty feet of one of the Herons procured by me \^A. Wardi, nobis]. They were feeding on a mud-bar at low tide. I was once con- cealed in the Ioav brush near a small pool watching three Louisiana Egrets chasing minnows, when two of them making for the same minnow squared off for a knock- down, while the third coolly appropriated the prize, leaving the combatants situated like complainant and defendant at the close of a lawsuit. In all my observations of the Herons I have seen nothing to lead to a conclusion that one of these birds held any particular antipathy against its own species while feeding. In the many squab- bles between Herons on their feeding-grounds, the encounters occurred quite as often between different species as members of the same species. It may be that during the breeding season they are more friendly than at other times. In order that you may understand my opportunities for observing these birds, I inclose a rough map of Mound Key and surroundings, my camping-place from January 20 till April 10. As you will see by the figures marked .... it was in the midst of their feeding-grounds, these places being mud- and sand-bars, bare at low tide. Eegarding the Eeddish Egret, among many thousands of them I saw only one in the pure white plumage, 1 Cf. Bull. U. S. Geol. Geog. Survey Terr. Vol. lY. No. 1, pp. 231, 232. 12 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. and no white young ; but one of my dark specimens lias white feathers on the head and in the tail, while one of the secondary quills has the outer web chiefly white. My companion of last winter's Florida trip reports that he saw no Eeddish Egrets with white except on the secondaries, '* Regarding the large Herons [i. e. A. IFardi'], I am much inclined to think them a geographical variety . . . the specimens being very uniform in color. ... I exam- ined some thirty nests at least, fifteen of which contained young, all being dark col- ored, with one excejition. These birds are common in Southwestern Florida, and their nests are frequently found along the coast. From all the information at my com- mand, connected with my own observations, I am almost convinced that the bird in question is separate and distinct from A. occidentalis and A. Wiiydemanni, and the fact that Audubon found the former in immense numbers among the mangrove islands of Eastern Florida is strong evidence that he happened in the vicinity of one of their rookeries. As you will observe by examining the diagram of my camping- place, and noting the rookeries of large Herons, . . . these birds were quite common in that vicinity ; while I saw only a few specimens of A. occidentalis. The white bird found in the nest with the blue might have come there from an adjoining empty nest, some thirty or forty feet distant, as it could easily have done, being nearly full- grown. This surmise is strengthened by the circumstance that I saw a large white Heron on the island marked ' *,' and my companion killed a similar, if not the same, specimen on the large island marked '2,' which he threw aAvay, supposing it to be a common White Egret \_Herodias egretta']. These I noAv believe to have been A. occidentalis ; the other [7/". egretta'] was then laying its eggs, while the description of A. occidentalis corresponds to my recollection of the bird he killed. At the time, I was not familiar with the description of A. occidentalis. " In the Little Blue Heron [^Florida ccendea'] and Reddish Egret \_Dichromanassa rufa'], where dichromatism appears to be an established fact, each species presents different phases and mixtures of both colors, especially the Little Blue, which shows almost every variety of curious markings of blue and white ; while in the Reddish Egret, one specimen shows white on the head, tail, and wings, and others reported by Mr. Adams show Avhite on the Avings. " As before said, I believe the bird to be a geographical variation of A. herodias, residing permanently and breeding in South Florida. I think that further search and observation Avill develop more evidence concerning A. occidetitalis and A. Wiirde- manni, Avhich may result in confirming your theory of their being one and the same species. You Avill pardon my opposing your opinion ; but iny convictions are so strong, that only the finding of Avhite birds Avith blue young, and more cases of blue parents A\'ith AA'hite young, or adults showing mixtures of both phases, AA'ould over- come them." Assuming that the large white birds observed by Mr. Ward were really a Avhite phase of the dark-colored birds obtained by him, Avhich Avere so numerous in the locality, it certainly appears strange that so fcAv of the former were seen. The case of the Reddish Egret Avhich he cites, affords, however, an exact parallel, and it is now considered established beyond question that "Peale's Egret" {Avdea Fealei, JioNAr., — a pure Avhite bird) is merely a Avhite phase of this species. As to the comparative rarity of these large Avhite birds, in the locality AA-here obser\'ed by Mr. Ward, mili- tating against any theory of their specific identity Avith the dark-colored birds, it should be remembered that in the case of nearly every dichromatic species of bird this condition is more or less variable Avith locality. A pertinent example may be cited in the case of Deniiegretta sacra, a Heron of Avide distribution in the Far East. ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — ARDEA. 13 This species inhabits a considerable number of islands in the Polynesian group, and it has been noticed and recorded by naturalists who have visited that region, that on some islands all or nearly all the birds of this species are dark-colored, on others all or nearly all are white, while on others still there may be a more equal proportion of the two phases. It may be remarked that the two phases in this species are even more distinct in coloration than in the case of Dlchromunassa rufa, the colored phase being darker than in the latter species. Upon the whole, even admitting the possi- bility of the white young bird seen by Mr. Ward having of its own volition taken up its abode in a nest containing dark-colored young, 1 am strongly inclined to believe that it belonged to the same species with the latter, the question of its parentage {i.e., whether its parents were white or dark-colored birds) being a comparatively unimportant consideration, as affecting the main question. But in adopting the view of their specific identity, a problem arises which in the light of our present knowledge appears unsolvable, and which may be briefly stated thus : — The large " blue " Herons obtained by Mr. Ward are, in every respect as regards size and proportions, identical with Ardea occidentalis, Aud., and A. Wurdemanni, Baird ; in coloration they agree exactly -with the latter, except only in the pattern of the head and tint of the neck, which are precisely as in A. herodias. The bird in question is apparently '' dichromatic," having a white phase ; hence, assuming that A. occidentalis and A. Wurdemnnni are dichromatic phases of one species, it necessa- rily follows that white individuals of the bird in question would be absolutely indis- tinguishable from ivhite examples of A. occidentalis/ Still, in view of the fact that the colored phase differs from A. IVurdemanni in its most essential feature of colora- tion, i.e. the pattern of the head-markings, it seems impossible to unite them, unless it can be shown that the type of A. Wurdemanni does not represent the perfect colored phase of that species.^ There are hence several hypotheses which might be plausibly argued upon theoretical grounds, and which may be stated as follows : (1) That A. occidentalis, A. Wiirdemanni, A. Wardi, and A. herodias all belong to a single species, which reaches its extremes of variation in the first- and last-named ; (2) That these names include three distinct races or species : A. herodias, which is never white ; A. occidentalis, which is dichromatic (having separate white and colored phases), and A. Wardi, also dichromatic, its white phase indistinguishable from that of A. occidentalis, and its colored phase distinguishable from that of the same species (A. Wiirdemanni) by the different pattern and color of the head and neck alone ; and (3) that there are two species, A. occidentalis and A. herodias, which in Florida hybridize on an extensive scale, producing the intermediate specimens which have been distinguished as A. Wiirdemanni and A. Wardi. Of these hypotheses I have, after careful consideration of them all, concluded to adopt the second, as being most consistent with known facts, and have accordingly proposed for the bird in question the name given above. Ardea herodias. THE GREAT BLUE HERON. Ardea herodias, Linn. S. N. I. 1758, 143, ed. 12, I. 1766, 237. — Wils. Am. Orn. VHI. 1814, 28, pi. 65, fig. 5. — Sw. & Rich. F. B. A. 11. 1831, 373. — Nutt. Man. H. 1834, 42. —Aud. Orn. Biog. 1 After many careful examinations of the type specimen, I am led to the conclusion that it does repre- sent the perfect colored phase, since no combination or division of the markings of A. herodias and A. occidentalis — or, in other words, no partial development of the head-pattern of the former — would give the peculiar markings which distinguish A. Wiirdemanni. 14 ALTRICIAL GRALLA.TORES — HERODIONES. II. 1835, 87; V. 1830, 599, pi. 211 ; Syiiop. 1839, 265; B. Am. VI. 1843, 122, pi. 369. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 668; Cat. N. Am. h. 1859, no. 487. — Ooues, Key, 1872, 267; Check List, 1873, no. 449 ; 2d eel. 1882, no. 655 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 517. — Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 487. Ardea Hiidsonias, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 238. Hab. The whole of North and Middle America, excepting Arctic districts; north to Hudson's Bay, " Fur Countries," and Sitka ; south to New Granada, Venezuela, and the Galapagos ; Bermu- das, and throughout the West Indies. Si'. Char. Adult: Length, about 42.00-50.00 ; extent, 72.00 ; weight, 5 to 8 pounds. Fore- head and central feathers of the crown pure white ; sides of crown and whole of the occiput, including the long plumes, blue-black. Chin, throat, and malar region pure white. Neck lavender-j^a-av, fadin'f <,aaduallv above into the white of cheeks and throat. Foreneck with a narrow medial series of Idack and ferruginous dashes mixed with white ; lower neck-plumes pale lavender-gray. Lateral jugular tufts uniform blue-black ; breast and abdomen black, almost uni- form laterally, but the middle feathers with broad medial stripes of white. Crissum white, the feathers sometimes edged with rufous. Tibial feathers deep chestnut-rufous, not growing conspicu- ously paler toward the body. Upper parts fine slate-blue, the dorsal and scapular plumes paler, more pearl-gray, — the lightness of the tint proportionate to the length of the plume ; remiges black, the inner secondaries growing gradually more slaty, so that tlie innermost are scarcely darker than the tertials. Tail deep slate-blue, a shade darker than the tertials. Entire border of the wing, from the armpit to the metacarpo-phalangeal joint, rich purplLsh-rufous, scarcely mixed anywhere with white, and mucli the widest at the bend. Bill olive aliove. the culmeu blackish ; lower mandible wax-yellow, brighter terminally (sometimes wholly yellow) ; iris bright yellow ; bare loral space cobalt-blue in spring, olive-greenish or yellowish after breeding season. Leys avd feet dushj-hlacli throiKjliout. Youmj : Above slate-gray (less bluish than in the adult), destitute of any penicillate plumes ; anterior lesser wing-coverts bordered terminally with light rufous ; border of the wing (broadly) white, more or less tinged with rufous, especially at and near the bend, where this color prevails. Entire pileum, including all the occipital feathers, blackish-slate, with a narrow median crest of more elongated darker-colored feathers, with pale fulvous shaft-streaks. Cheeks dark grayish ; malar region, chin, and throat only, pure white. Neck dull gray, some- times tinged with rufous, some of the feathers willi indistinctly lighter shaft-streaks ; foreneck with a narrow longitudinal series of black, rufous, and whitish dashes, much as in the adult. Breast and abdomen broadly striped witli dark cinereous and white, in nearly equal amount ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — ARDEA. 15 (sometimes suffused with rufous). TibiaB very pale rufous, sometimes almost white ; crissuui white. Upper mandible black, paler, or horn-color, along the tomium ; lower, pale pea-green, deepening into clear horn-yellow on ternuiial half; eyelids and Iiorizontal space on lore light apple-green ; iris gamboge-yellow ; tibiaj and soles of toes, apple-green ; rest of legs and feet black.i Wing, 17.90-20.00 ; tail, 7.30-S.OO ; culmen, 4.30-6.00 ; depth of bill, through middle of nostril, 0.85-1.10 ; naked portion of tibia, 3.50-5.00 ; tarsus, 0.00-8.00 ; middle toe, 3.50-4.50. [E.xtremes of 17 adult specimens.] Geo«raphical and Individual Variations. So far as is indicated by the rather scant material before me (17 adult specimens), there is little, if any, variation in proportions or colors which can be considered strictly geographical. Especiallj' is this so with regard to dimensions and relative measurements of different parts in an individual, — a fact which is clearly shown by the carefully-made measurements of the whole series. The typical style, indeed, prevails with such uniformity, that of seventeen specimens only four difl'er in any noteworthy respect from the average style. These " aberrant" examples are the following : — No. 68300, from Florida, is decidedly the largest in the whole series, its general size almost equalling that of A. occidentalis. The bill also approaches quite nearly to that of the latter species, both in size and form. In colcM's, however, it is true herodias, so far as essential characters are concerned, the head-pattern l)eing exactly as in typical specimens of that species ; tlie abdomen witli black largtdy prevailing, etc. The only obvious difference from ordinary specimens of the species consists in tlie peculi.ir plumage of the neck, which at first sight appears to be white throughout. A close exauiination, liowever, reveals the iiict that the feathers are very mucli worn or abraded, and that wherever they are least so a lavender-gray tinge is distinctly visible ! Now, if we examine closely the neck plumage of typical A. herodias, we find that it is only the surface which has this lavender-graj'^ color, the concealed portion of tlie feathers being ivhitish ; so that the white appearance of the neck in this specimen is thus readily accounted for. As probably indicating a tendency to albinism, it may lie remarked that there are in this specimen many pure white feathers mixed through the rump and upper tail-coverts.^ The most important specimen of all, since its peculiarities are real, and not merely apparent, is No. 8065, from Mexico, also an adult. This example represents the opposite extreme in size from that just noticed, being much the smallest in the whole series. As to plumage, it is typical A. herodias. The shades of color are very deep and dark tliroughout, however, though not more so than 4524, from Cape Flattery, W. T., which almost exactly resembles it in this respect. The neck of this specimen is of precisely the same shade as that of ^. occidentalis (" JFiirdemanni"). The chief peculiarity of this specimen is that the bill is throughout of a clear bright yellow, Avhereas in true herodias only part of the lower mandible is of this color, the upper being mainly dusky. Should this latter character, taken together with the very small size, prove constant in Mexican adult specimens, they may rank as a geographical race, for which the term ^^Ardea Lessoni," BoNAP., would probably have to be employed. The Cape Flattery specimen alluded to above agrees exactly with the Mexican specimen as to colors, but its proportions are very peculiar. Thus, while the wing is above the average lengtli and the tail up to the maximum, the bill is considerably below the average, being smallest of all except that of the Mexican specimen ; the tibia and tarsus represent the minimum length, while the middle toe is shorter than that of any other in the entire series ! The only other specimen in the collection worth mentioning in this connection is No. 33134, Cape Saint Lucas. This specimen, also an adult, is remarkable simply on account of its very light colors. There is an unusual predominance of white on the breast and jugulum, and the colors generally (excepting, of course, the black) are two or three shades lighter than in the average. Its measurements come near the maximum. In these peculiarities, however, we see only the result of an extremely dry and hot climate, the bleaching effect of which is plainly visible in all the birds of brown or grayish plumage in that region of continued droughts, which embraces, besides * Notes taken from fresh specimen [No. 84, 578, Nat. Mus., $ juv., Mount Carmel, Illinois, Sept. 26, 1870. Length, 42.00 ; expanse, 68.50]. - Since the above was written, a re-examination of the specimen proves it to be A. IVardil The first inspection was made several years previous to the discovery of the latter species. 16 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIOXES. the peninsula of Lower California, the whole of the desert region of the Southwestern United States and Western Mexico. Younger specimens (probably in the second year), of which No. 12670, is a fair example, have the forehead dusky-slate, there being only a few white feathers in the crown ; the cheeks strongly tinged with buff. The specimen alluded to is ec[ually dark with that from Cape Flattery, W. T., and that from Mexico. Seasonal Variations. Although the plumage of this species is essentially the same through- out the year, there are certain differences depending on the season which are worthy of note. In the .spring, or at the commencement of the breeding season, the bill, except on the culmen, is almost entirely yellow (generally a wax-yellow, brighter on the lower mandible) ; and the bare orbital space cobalt-blue, while from the occiput grow two long, slender, pendant, black plumes. After the young are hatched, these plumes are dropped, the bare skin around the eye has changed to a yellowish-green hue, and the upper mandible become almost wholly dusky blackish-olive, with only the tomia and lower mandible yellowish. Of some twenty specimens killed June 11, 1877, at the Little Cypress Swamp, of Knox Co., Indiana, none had the white occipital plumes, while the bill and orbits were colored as last stated above. These birds were all shot at their breeding grounds, where were about one hundred and fifty occupied nests, mostly containing full-grown young. A male killed at Washington, D. C, April 9, 1875, and consequently in perfect plumage, had the bill and soft parts colored as follows: — Bill dull wax-yellow, brighter on the lower mandible ; bare orbital space cobalt-blue ; iris bright chrome-yellow ; legs black, the tibice inclin- ing to brownish ; soles of toes dull grayish naples-yellow. A female obtained in spring at Mount Carmel, 111., was sinularly colored. The Great Blue Heron — one of the most eminently characteristic birds of North America — is found, in varying abundance, throughout the continent, south of the more northern regions, from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast ; it is also found in several of the West India Islands and in Central America. Eichardson regarded it as only an accidental straggler in the Fur Kegion ; but Captain IJlakiston notes it as a regular summer visitant, and as breeding on the Saskatchewan. It was found by M. Bour- geau, in July, 1858, breeding on one of the tributaries of the north branch of the Saskatchewan. Tliere were several nests in a poplar grove, situated in a large ravine near a lake ; they were all about fifty feet from the ground. One nest, containing six eggs, was taken. This bird was found at Sitka by Bischoff, where it was rare ; and it is included by Mr. R. Browne in his list of the birds of Vancouver. In California, Dr. Cooper speaks of it as everywhere common about the shores and marshes, almost forming one of the characteristic features of the landscape of that region. It is resident, not even migrating from the Columbia River, though wandering to a consid- erable distance for food. It visits the islands along the coast, and occasionally stands to feed on the floating kelp at some distance from the shore. He found its nest with fresh eggs about April 24, near San Diego. The nests were built in oak trees, up dry ravines, at some distance from the water. Sometimes there were two or three nests in the same tree. At Santa Barbara, he found them in lofty poplars, three miles from the shore. They were loosely constructed of coarse sticks, laid flat. The eggs, four in number, measured from 2.60 to 2.68 inches in length, and 1.78 to 1.80 in breadth. The birds made no attempt to defend their nest, but flew around uttering a low croaking. It iisually fishes in the early morning and in the evening, often wading up to its tarsal joint in the water, standing motionless, watching until its prey comes near, and then seizing it by a very rapid stroke of the bill, and swallowing it head down- ward. It also feeds on meadow mice, frogs, small birds, grasshoppers, etc. Its flight is rapid and easy, and when migrating is sometimes very high ; but it usually keeps near the ground or water. It is at all times very vigilant, and difficult of approach. AKDEID.E— THE HERONS — ARDEA. IT When wounded it defends itself with its bill, and can inflict a dangerous wound. In flying, it doubles back the neck between the wings, and allows the legs to stick out straight behind. It has been known to collect in flocks of two hundred or more, near the Columbia, when the herring were entering the bay in August. It is said to be quite eatable when young, if properly cleaned. Captain Bendire mentions this species as a very common summer resident through- out the lower Harney Valley, in Eastern Oregon. It breeds on one of the small islands in Malheur Lake in great numbers, in company with the Double-crested Cor- morant and the White Pelican. Its nests were placed on greasewood bushes, from two to four feet from the ground, nearly every bush containing a nest. They were all flat structures, built of such materials as were close at hand — dry sticks and reeds, with a little swamp-grass for a lining. The usual number of eggs was five. The measurement of the largest egg was 2.73 X 1.96 ; of the smallest, 2.40 X 1.82 ; and the average, 2.65 x 1.80. The first laid eggs in a set were usually of a lighter or faded color. The female began to lay about the 20tli of April. The young for the first two weeks were nearly destitute of feathers, and made a hissing noise when disturbed. They sit close together in a circle on their nests, with their heads all turned toward its centre. When one of their colonies is disturbed, the old birds at once depart, without any manifestation of concern. This Heron is also known occasionally to breed on precipitous and rocky sides of streams, where other opportunities are not present, making use of projecting ledges of rocks instead of trees or bushes. Mr. Salvin notes the occurrence of this Heron near the Lake of Duenas, in Guatemala ; it was seen fishing on the River Guacalate ; he also met with it fre- quenting the lagoons on the Pacific coast of that Republic, and mentions its great shyness. Professor Newton cites this Heron as occurring in St. Croix in March and April, and again in August, 18o7. Mr. E. Newton had no doubt that it breeds on the island, as it was observed there on the 10th of June. According to Dr. Gundlach, it breeds in Cuba; and on the authority of Mr. Richard Hill and Mr. March, in Jamaica. Mr. Dresser found it common in Tamaulipas, Mexico, all the year, except- ing only the two coldest months ; and Dr. Berlandier, in his manuscript notes, mentions its occurrence in Eastern Mexico from November to the end of February, and as abundant throughout the entire State of Tamaulipas. Major AVedderburn gives this species as resident in the Bermudas, many arriving in autumn, and a few remaining throughout the year. In 18-46 a nest of this bird containing two eggs was found among the mangrove-trees in Hungry Bay, and the Rev. H. B. Tristram is said to have kept one alive in his garden, at the parsonage on Ireland Island, which was once seen to seize a Ground-dove and swallow it entire. Mr. Hardis, however, regards it as entirely migratory in Bermuda ; first seen about the 19th of September, continuing to arrive in October, when it becomes common, and occasionally met with from that period to April; it then disappears for the summer months. During the violent gale of October, 1848, a number sought refuge in the Bermudas, appearing on all parts of the coast, and landing in a state of such great exhaustion that five were taken alive. In arriving it was seen to keep close to the surface of the water. Professor Verrill found this Heron breeding in the interior of Maine, a hundred miles or more from the coast ; and Mr. Boardman informs us that it is found in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, as far to the north as the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Accord- ing to the observations of Mr. Giraud, it is common on all the salt-marshes of Long Island, where it confines itself almost entirely to the wet and miry flats in the vicinity VOL. I. — .3 18 ALTRICIAL GllALLATUKES — HERODIONES. of the beach. In its habits it is diurnal as ^vell as nocturnal. It may be observed by day wading out on the shoals, collecting crabs and various species of shell-fish, and at other times standing in the water up to its knees, with its bill poised ready to strike its prey. It is then especially shy, intently observing everything that is pass- ing within a wide circle. Yet even this bird, vigilant as it is, may be enticed by decoys within gunshot ; and by many its flesh is very highly esteemetL It will venture even more fearlessly forth at night in quest of food, always stand- ing in the same motionless posture, with bill ready poised for the coming of its prey. While in this position its plumage is parted, exposing a portion of the breast, which is said to be furnished with a downy substance emitting a phosphorescent light. By some this is called the bird's lantern, and is said to be serviceable to it while fishing, both by attracting its prey, and by showing it Avhere to strike. Even in dead speci- mens this luminous substance is said to give out a pale glow, not unlike that produced by decaying wood. This Heron was met with by Mr. J. A. Allen in September, in the Valley of Great Salt Lake, where it was (piite common. Mr. Ridgway also found it an abun- dant species in the wooded valley of the Truckee River, and breeding in numbers on all the rocky islands in Pyramid Lake. Several of its nests, containing from three to four young each, were found on the large island. These were very bulky, but well made, composed of sticks, and placed on the tops of the greasewood bushes (Obione), about five feet from the ground. Those on the " Pyramid " were placed among the rocks, at varying heights above the water. Among the marshes around Great Salt Lake, and in the tide lagoons near Sacramento, he also found it abundant. Wilson found this Heron breeding in the gloomy solitudes of the tallest cedar- swamps in the lower parts of New Jersey, where, if undisturbed, it continues many years in succession. The young are hatched about the middle of May, and are unable to fly until they are as large as their parents. It breeds but once in a season. The noise which this Heron makes when disturbed in its breeding-place is said sometimes to resemble the honking of a goose ; at other times it is a hoarse, hollow grunting sound, like that of a hog, bvit louder. Like the common Heron of Europe, which it closely resembles in many other respects, this bird is of solitary habit, excepting during the breeding season, going in pairs only from March to August ; the rest of the year leading a solitary life. Fu- rious battles are said to take place between the males at the beginning of the pairing season. Mr. ]Sr. B. Moore has supplied some very interesting observations upon the habits of this species, tracing the history of a pair from the first labor of making a nest, through the periods of egg-laying, incubation, and rearing their young. They were observed at the nest with a field-glass, and were first seen Feb. 5. One was carrying sticks to a certain willow growing in a pond. The other was standing in a part of the tree near the top, or fifteen feet from the mud below. This was the female, and a few sticks were placed near her. The sticks, broken from the blasted willow-tops, were brought by the male. He generally alighted with them a little higher than she. The latter reached up her bill, took them, and placed them on the pile, each in its proper place. The work was so carried on to its completion — the male acting as procurer of materials, his mate as architect. During tliese labors, the female seems by far the more impatient to advance the business. She takes the stick from him and lays it in its place ; and if he stops, and seems loath to leave her side, she motions him to leave, though no sound is heard, and away he goes for another stick. The sticks were carried, not across the ])ill, but pointing out before it, in aline with it. Neither ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — ARDEA. 19 the eggs nor the young, until the latter are able to use their bills well for defence, are ever left by both birds at once. Copulation takes place in the nest. Both parents incubate, and both bring food to the young. After these are able to strike with their bills, the old birds spend little time with them, or even in sight. The eagerness and the dash of the bill of a hungry nestling, as Avell as its powerful gripe, are interesting peculiarities. The struggle between the young Heron and the parent seems like a wrestling-match, the former standing up almost as high as the latter, the tree swaying to and fro, and both birds staggering upon the nest, to such an extent that the mother is occasionally compelled to step off and stand on one of the branches, to avoid falling. This struggle occurs when all the food has been given, and the mother is seeking to extricate her bill from that of her young. On one occa- sion Mr. Moore saw one of the parents, after having fed its young, pick up a good- sized eel from the nest, deliberately swallow it, and then fly away. This species is never known to run, or even to walk briskly ; and it never rakes the bottom for its food. It is sometimes seen in the water watching for its prey at two o'clock in the morning. It often feeds on sirens, eating the posterior portion only of the larger ones. In very cold winters many more are seen in Florida than in milder seasons. After swallowing a good-sized fish, it drinks by dipping its bill into the water from one to five times. The larger the fish, the more water it drinks. Mv. Moore has seen one take a large fish that lay flirting its tail, and fly two hundred yards before laying it on the sand. On being approached the bird again carried it off as before. In catching fish this Heron usually strikes its prey through the body. Now and then it is said to strike at a fish so large and strong as to endanger its own life. Audubon was a witness to an incident of this kind, where a Heron, on the Florida coast, after striking a fish, was dragged several yards, and was able to dis- engage itself only after a severe struggle. This species is said to take three years in attaining maturity ; and even after that period it gains in size and weight. When first hatched it has a very grotesque appearance : the legs, neck, and bill seem dis- proportionately long, and it is nearly bare. It is soon covered with a silky down of dark gray color. In Florida the number of its eggs is nearly uniformly three ; but farther north the number increases to four or five, and in a few instances to six. The egg resembles, in its rounded oval shape and in its color, the eggs of most of the Heron family. This color is uniform and unspotted, and is a faint wash of a greenish Prussian blue. The eggs vary somewhat in size, and some are more oblong in shape than others ; eggs from Florida are noticeably smaller than those from Massachusetts. Three in my cabinet exhibit the following measurements : No. 60, from Grand Menan, 2.50 X 1.80 inches; No. 61, from aSTaushon, Mass., 2.50 x 1.70; and No. 977, from Cape Charles, Va., 2.57 X 1.80 inches. Ardea cinerea. THE COMMON HERON OF EUROPE. Ardea cinerea, Lixn. Faun. Si;ec. 1746, 59 ; S. N. I. 170(3, 236. — Fabr. Faun. Groenl. 1780, 106 (Greenland). — Gmel. S. N'. I. ii. 1788, 627. — Naum. Vcig. Deutselil. IX. 1838, 24, pi. 220. — Gould, B. Eur. 1837, pi. 273. — Roxap. Consp. II. 1855, 111. — Keys. & Blas. AVirb. Eur. 1840, 79. — Maccull. Man. Brit. Orn. II. 1842, 128. —Gray, Cat. Brit. B. 1863, 145.— Reixh. Ibis, 1861, 9 (Nenortalik, Greenland). — RiDciW. Nom. iST. Am. B. 1881, no. 488.— COUES, Check List, 2d ed. 1S82, no. 657. Ardea major, Lixx. S. X. I. 1766, 236. 20 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES/ Ardea rhenana, Sander. Naturf. XIII. 1779, 195. Ardea Johanna; Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 629. Ardca cineracca, Buehm, Vog. Deutsclil. 1831, 580. Ardea vulgaris, Bechst. Orn. Tasch. 1803, 255. Ardea brag, Geoff. Jacq. Yoy. Ind. IV. 1844, 85. Ardea leiicop/uca, GouLU, P. Z. S. 1848, 58. Ardea cinerea major, minor, media, et bracliyrlujnclia, Brehm, Verz. Sarainl. C. L. Brelim's, 1866, 12 {Reiclienow. ). Hah. Palaearctic region, south to Australia ; accidental in Southern Greenland. Sp. Char. Adult : Forehead and centre of pileum pure white ; sides of crowri and occipital plumes deep black ; rest of head wholly white. Neck light cinereous, with a very faint lavender tinge, gradually fading into the white of the head ; the front part with a narrow longitudinal series of black dashes on a white ground. Upper parts bluish-gray, the penicillate plumes of the back and scapulars much lighter or pale pearl-gray. Border of the wing jnue white ; anteaxillar tufts deep blue-black. Sides and flanks uniform pale blue-gray. Medial lower parts white, heavily striped laterally with blue-black. Tibise and crissum pure white. Bill yellow, usually with the culmen brownish terminally ; bare loral space green ; iris yellow ; feet dull green ; tibiaj yellow. (Macgillivray.) Juv. : Pileum deep ash-gray ; occipital plumes black. Neck ash-gray, the front with a narrow longitudinal series of black and rufous dashes, mixed with white, the former predominating. Upper parts uniform slate-gray, destitute of penicillate plumes. Malar region, chin, and tlinjat white. Anteaxillar tufts white, tipped with a rusty tinge. Edge of the wing and entire lower parts wholly white, tinged with buff'. Wing, 18.50 ; tail, 8.00 ; culmen, 4.80 ; depth of bill through middle of nostril, 0.85 ; bare tibia, 3.25 ; tarsus, 6.25 ; middle toe, 3.80. [No. 57006 ; Europe.] The Common or Gray Heron of Europe has small claim to a place in the fauna of North America. Two specimens are recorded as having been known in Greenland, — one, seen in August, 1765, by the missionary Stach ; the other, a young bird found dead near Nenortalik in 1856. It is a familiar European species, as also one of the most numerous of this peculiar and well-marked family. Formerly, before falconry had become one of the lost arts, it was the typical Heron of olden times, and occupied an important place in the sporting world. The ARDEIDiE — THE HERONS — HERODIAS. 21 localities in which it bred were forbidden ground, except to the servants of royalty ; the bird itself was exclusively royal game, and penal enactments preserved it for royal sport. But now that it must depend upon itself for safety, it has become shy, watchful, and solitary, and during the winter seldom more than one is seen at the same time and in the same place. In the spring, however, numbers collect together, and resort anew to the favorite wood in which, for years in succession, they have spent the breeding season. At this time their habits are said to resemble those of the Eook ; and, like that bird, the Heron builds on high trees — generally large oaks — and associates in such great numbers that Pennant counted more than eighty nests of this species upon one oak at Cressy Hall — an estate then belonging to the Heron family. In some instances it has been known to build on precipitous rocks near the coast, and at others on the ground amongst reeds and rushes. The nest is usually of large size, formed of sticks, and often lined with wool. The usual number of eggs in the nest of this Heron is said to be four or five, and incubation lasts about four weeks. The parents sit on the eggs by turns, the sitting bird being supplied with food by its mate. When the young are hatched, both parents assist in the supply of food. If the heronry is visited during the breeding season, the old birds betray great anxiety, sailing in circles high above the trees. It feeds the young with fish and reptiles, occasionally with small mammalia also. It is assid- uous in collecting food during the breeding season, but at other times it usually fishes only late in the evening or very early in the morning, sitting the whole day perched on the branch of a large tree. It stands motionless in the water when fishing, the head drawn back toward the shoulders, ready to strike with its sharp beak the approaching prey. When a large eel has been secured, it is often disabled by beating it on the ground. Mr. Dana states that in the Orkney and Shetland Islands, where this Heron is very plentiful, it always selects the lee side of the island for its fishing operations. Mr. Yarrell states that this Heron is said to be very long lived. It was in former years held in great esteem as an article of food. The heronries are occupied for breeding purposes from spring until August. During the winter a few stragglers only are seen, who seem to be left to pay occasional visits to maintain the right of occupation. Occasionally furious battles take place between the Eooks and the Herons for the possession of particular trees. This Heron is a summer visitant of Scandinavia, going occasionally as far north as the Faroe Islands and Iceland, from which it straggles to the south coast of Green- land. It is found in Eussia and Siberia, and thence southward over the whole Euro- pean continent. It is said to be specially abundant in Holland. In its migrations it is found in most of the islands of the Mediterranean, and winters in Korth Africa. It has been traced to the Island of Madeira, and is even said to visit the Cape of Good Hope. It has been found in the countries about the Caucasus, is said to inhabit India, China, and Japan, and is included by Horsfield among the birds of Java. The eggs are of a uniform pale sea-green color, and are of a rounded oval form, 2.25 inches in length by 1.75 inches in breadth. 22 ALTRICIAL G-RALLATORES — HERODIONES. Genus HERODIAS, Boie. Hcrodias, Boie, Isis, 1822. Type, Ardca egrdta, Lixn. Gen. Char. "White Herons of large size, and without plumes, except in the breeding season, when ornamented simply (in most species ^) by a long train of straiglit feathers, with thick shafts, and long, sparse, decomposed, slender barbs, which grow from the dorsal region and overhang the tail. Bill moderately slender, the upper and lower outlines almost parallel to near the end, where gently curved, the culmen more abruptly so than the gonys, though the curve is quite gradual. Mental apex reaching a point about midway between the tip of the bill and the eye ; malar apex decidedly anterior to the frontal apex, and extending to beneath the posterior end of the nostrils. Toes very long, the middle one about two thirds tlie tarsus, the hallux much less than one half the former. Tibiaj bare for about one half their length, or for about the length of the middle toe. H, egretta. Anterior scutellaj of tarsus large, distinct, and nearly quadrate. Nuptial plumes confined to the anterior part of the back, whence spring numerous long, straight, and thick shafts, reaching, when fully developed, to considerably beyond the end of the tail ; each stem having along each side very long, slender, and distant fibrilla'. Tail even, of twelve broad feathers. Lower nape well feathered. Plumage entirely pure white at all stages and seasons. This genus, like Ardea, Garzetta, etc., is nearly cosmopolitan, being wanting only in the islands of the South Pacific and in the colder latitudes of other regions. It comprises but a single Ameri- can species, which has a more extensive range than any other of the American Herons, excepting only Nyctiardea grisca na'via,^ its regular habitat extending from the United States to Chili and Patagonia. In their immature stage and in winter plumage, the several Old World species closely resemble the American species, as well as one another. But it is believed that in i'ull dress the following distinctions will be found to hold good in the forms which we have been able to compare. Gray's Hand-list (vol. III. pp. 27, 28) recognizes the following species : (1) //. idha, L., of Europe, Africa, India, and Australia ; (2) II. egretta, Gmel., of America ; (3) H. intei-mcdia, V. 1 An Old World species (H. plu^m'fcrus, Gould) has long jugular feathers with (lecoinposed webs. 2 It is an unsettled ([uestiou, however, whether the Night Heron of Chili, Patagonia, etc., may not be a distinct race (iV. grisea obscura ; see page 56). ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — IIERODIAS. 23 Hasselq., of Java, India, Japan, New South. Wales, and Tasmania ; (4) H. timorensis, Cuv., of Timor ; and (5) H. hrevipes, Verr. & Desm., from New Caledonia. To which of these the fourth species of the following synopsis belongs, I am at present unable to determine. Synopsis of Species. A. J Kcjidar plumes sUghthj lengthened, witli broad and nndeconqiosed icehs. a. With li^ht-colored legs and feet, and the bill usually principally dusky. 1. H. E.lba.1 Plumes of the train reaching to only about 2-3 inches beyond the tail ; bill chiefly dusky in the breeding plumage ; legs and feet chiefly light flesh-colored, with the larger scutellaj more brownish. Wing, 1(5.00-18.30 ; culmen, 4.70-6 00 ; tarsus, 6.50- 7.90 ; middle toe, 3.60-4.60. Hah. Europe and other parts of Old World. h. With deep black legs and feet, the bill usually mostly yellow. 2. H. syrmatophorus.'- With a short train, like //. alba, but bill wholly yellow, and the legs and feet deep black (except tibife, which are pale dull yellow), as in H. egretta. Wing, 14.50 ; culmen, 4.50 ; tarsus, 6.25 ; middle toe, 3.65. Hab. Australia. 3. H. egretta. Bill usually chiefly yellow, with more or less of the terminal portion black ; sometimes, however, with the manilla wholly black or entirely yellow ; tibise black. Train extending usually 6 inches or more beyond the tail. Wing, 14.10-16.80 ; culmen, 4.20-4.90 ; tarsus, 5.50-6.80 ; middle toe, 3.50-4.30. Hah. Warmer parts of America. B. Jugular plumes similar to those of the dorsal train, only smedler. 4. H. plumiferus.3 Bill with about the terminal half of both mandibles black, the basal portion pale-colored (yellow in life ?) ; legs and feet deep black. Wing, 12.50 ; culmen, 3.10; tarsus, 4.80; middle toe, 3. Hab. China (No. 85747 U. S. Nat. Mus. ; ^ ad., Woo Sung, China, May 23, 1881 ; Shanghai Museum) ; Australia (Gould). Herodias egretta. THE AMERICAN EGRET. La Grande Aigrette d'Amerique, Buff. PI. Enl. 1770-86, pi. 925. Great White Heron, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 91. Great Egret, Lath. t. c. 89 (based on Pi. Enl. 925). Ardea egretta, Gmel. S. N. I. 1788, 629, no. .34 (based on PL Enl. 925, and Lath., 1. c). — Wils. Am. Oin. Vn. 1813, lOG, pL 61, fig. 4. — Nutt. Man. II. 1834, 47. — AUD. Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 600, pi. 386; Synop. 1839, 265; B. Am. VI. 1843, 132, pi. 370. — CouES, Key, 1872, 267 ; Check List, 1873, no. 452 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 519. Herodias egretta. Gray, Gen. B. IIL 1849. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 666; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 486. — CouEs, Check List, ed. 2, 1882, no. 658. Herodias alba, var. egretta, Eidgw. Am. Lye. N. Y. Jan. 1874, 386. Herodias alba egretta, Ridgw. Bull. Essex Inst. Oct. 1874, 171 ; Nom. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 489. 1 Herodias alba, Linn. European Egret. Ardea albei, LiXN. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 144 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 239. Herodias alba. Auct. Ardea egrettoides, S. G. Gmel. Keise, II. 193, pi. 24. Erodius Victoricc, jMacgill. Man. N. H. Orn. II. 131. Herodias Candida, Brehm, Vi.ig. Deutschl. 584. 2 Herodias syrmatophorus, Gould. Australian Egret. Herodias syrmatophorus, Gould, B. Austr. VI. 1848, pi. 56. It is somewhat doubtful whetlier this bird can be separated from H. egretta. A Floridian specimen of the latter is in all rcsjjccte identical, except as to size, the measurements being, wing, 15.50 ; culmen, 4.50 ; tarsu.s, 6.00 ; and middle toe, 3.85, —certainly not as great a difference as occurs between specimens of either H. alba or H. egretta. 3 Herodias plumiferus, Gould. Plumed Egret. Herodias plumiferus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1847, 221 ; B. Austr. VI. 1848, pi. 57. 24 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. Hcrodias egretta, var. cali/ornica, Baikd, B. N. Am. 1858, 667 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 486 a. Arclca Icucc, "Illiger," Light. Verz. Doubl. 1823, no. 793. Ardca alba, subspec. gaJatca, Reichenow, J. f. 0. 1877, 272. Hab. The whole of temperate and tropical America, from Nova Scotia, Canada West, Minne- sota, and Oregon, to Chili and Patagonia ; thronghont the West Indies. Sp. Char. Length, about 37.00-39.00 ; extent, about 55.00-57.00 ; wing, 14.10-16.80 ; tail, 5.60-7.30 ; culmen, 4.20-4.90 ; depth of bill, .70-.8() ; tarsus, 5.50-6.80 ; middle toe, 3.50-4.30 ; naked portion of tibia, 3.50-4.50 ; weight, about 2| lbs. Color entirely pure white at all seasons and at all ages. Bill and lores rich chrome-yellow (the latter sometimes tinged with light green), the culmen usually black near the tip, sometimes nearly the entire maxilla black ; iris naples- yellow ; legs and feet entirely deep black. Having specimens before us from all parts of its range, w^e are unable to detect in this species any variations of a geographical nature. The chief difterence between individuals consists in the amount of black on the maxilla, this being sometimes almost nil, while again the maxilla may be entirely black. That this variation has no relation to season is shown by the fact that in a consid- erable .series shot from one " rookery " in Florida, and all bearing the nuptial train, the extremes are presented by different individuals, others being variously intermediate. The American Egret may be easily enough distinguished from that of Europe (if. alba) by its smaller size, jet-black instead of pale flesh-colored legs, brighter yellow bill, etc. ; but I have thus far been unsuccessful in my search for characters which will serve always to distinguish the Australian Egret from H. egretta. Australian specimens agree w'ith the latter in black legs and feet (though the tibiae are said to be pale dull yellow), yellow bill, and smaller size. A single specimen in nuptial plumage has the train short, like H. alba ; but a Florida example of H. egretta differs in no respect whatever, that I can see, except measurements ; and in this respect the dis- crejtancy is much less than between examples of H. egretta shot at the same time in the same locality ! Following are the measurements of the two specimens in question : — ^0. 71567, H. syrmatophortis, 14.50 4.50 6.25 3.65 'No. 7 352i, H. egretta, 15.50 4.50 6.00 3.85 New South Wales. Florida. It is possible, however, that a larger series of H. syrmatophorus than the one which I have been able to examine might show differences which have as yet escaped my notice. The Great White Egret of America has an extended distribution, breeding through- out North America as far as New Jersey, on the Atlantic coast, in the interior as far north as Southern Illinois, and throughout South America, almost to Patagonia. It is a great wanderer, and stragglers have been met with from the Straits of Magellan to Nova Scotia, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, where it is fovind as far to the north as the Columbia River, and probably beyond. In midsummer it wanders to ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — HERODIAS. 25 Lake Michigan and others of the larger lakes. Mr. Salvin found it common in Cen- tral America, both on the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts. It was much more solitary in its habits than the mndidissima. Mr. G. C. Taylor also met with it at Tigre Island, in Honduras, where it was not uncommon. It is an occasional visitant, both in the spring and in tlie fall, to Bermuda. Lcotaud speaks of it as a very common species in Trinidad, where it was principally found on the banks of the sea, or of rivers influenced by the tides. It is said to hunt for fish in the daytime, and also to feed on soft mollusks. It reposes on the branches of the mangrove-trees in a state of continued immobility. It is found usually singly, or not more than two or three together. Although very shy in its wild state, it is readily reconciled to captivity. Confined in a courtyard or a garden, it becomes a very attractive ornament. The brilliant whiteness of its plumage, the gracefulness of its movements, the elegance of its plumes, and the dignity of its carriage, combine to make it very attractive. It will watch for a rat or a mouse with complete immobility, when suddenly, and with a surprising rapidity of movement, it seizes its prey. It devours everything it meets with, sparing neither insect nor reptile. If another of this species is put in the same enclosure, a furious contest is sure to ensue, which not unfrequently ends in the crip- pling of one of the combatants. They strike furious blows at each other with their beaks, but these are usually warded off. In the struggle they interlace their feet and wings, and not unfrequently one of the wings gets broken : this ends the contest. The Egret is a resident of Trinidad, breeds there, and never leaves the island. It is given by Dr. Gundlach as breeding in Cuba, and by Mr. Gosse and Mr. March as a resident in Jamaica ; and it is found in other West India Islands. Mr. C. W. Wyatt mentions meeting with this species on the Lake of Faturia, in Colombia, S. A. Dr. Burmeister records it as found everywhere throughout the La Plata region in South America, on the banks of the rivers and among the lagoons, or among the reeds in marshy ground from the Bancla Oriental as far as the Andes. Specimens were taken by Dr. Cunningham (Ibis, 1867) near Port Ordway, in the Straits of Magellan. During the summer this species straggles along our entire Atlantic coast, and even into the interior. Mr. Boardman informs me that it not only occasionally is taken in the neighborhood of Calais, but that individuals have been shot as far up the Bay of Fundy as Windsor, Xova Scotia. Several instances are on record of its having been taken in Massachusetts. Mr. Allen reports two taken near Hudson by Mr. Jillson in 1807 ; these were in immature plumage. Several others were seen at the same time. A male in full plumage was taken at Ashland, in May, several years since, and another near Lynn by Mr. Vickary. Mr. H. A. Purdie records the capture of a fine specimen in Westford in the summer of 1873. In the summer of 1869 an example of this species was shot on the Onion or Winooski Fiver, in Vermont. Though rare in the interior, it is yet found in suitable localities. Professor Kumlien informs me that in the months of August and September it is to be seen every year, fishing on the edge of Lake Koskonong, Wisconsin. New Jersey is the most northern point on the Atlantic coast where it has been known to breed. On Long Island, according to Giraud, it is not a frequent visitor. Occasionally one may be seen, during the summer months, on the marshes or meadows, or wading about on the shoals in pursuit of small fish, on which it feeds, as well as frogs and lizards. The largest number ever in sight at one time is five. These were seen on Coney Island, and were ex- tremely shy and vigilant, eluding all attempts to secure them. In Wilson's time, or about 1810, this Heron bred in considerable numbers in the extensive cedar-swamps in the lower part of Kew Jersey, where their nests Avere built in societies on trees. The young made their first appearance in the marshes in August, in parties of twenty VOL. I. — 4 26 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. or thirty, and were frequently shot. The old birds Avere too shy to be often secured. Their food, as shown by the remains found in their stomach, consists of frogs, lizards, small lish, insects, seeds of a species of ni/mphcea, water-snakes, mice, moles, and other kinds of vermin. Audubon met with this species abundantly in Florida, where it is resident through- out the year. It is found along the (lulf coast to Mexico ; but is rarely met Avith inland, and usually not more than fifty miles from the coast, and then always near some large river. It frequents, for purposes of reproduction, low, marshy districts covered with large trees, tlie margin of streams, ponds, or bayous, or gloomy swamps covered with water. In a few instances Mr. Audubon met with its nests in low trees, and on sandy islands at a short distance from the mainland. Early in December Mr. Audubon found this Heron congregated together in vast numbers, apparently for the purpose of mating, in East Florida. He describes the courtship of the males as very curious and interesting. Their throats swelling out in the manner of Cormorants, emitting gurgling sounds, they strutted round the females, raising their long plumes almost erect, and pacing majestically before the objects of their selection. Conflicts now and then took place, but they were not so frequent as he had been led to suppose. These performances were continued from day to day for nearly a week, occupying the warmer portion of the day. The flight of this Heron is well sustained and vigorous. On foot its movements are graceful, its step measured, its long neck being gracefully retracted and curved. Its long and silky train makes its appearance a few weeks previous to the love season, and continues to grow and to increase in beauty until incubation has com. menced. After this period it begins to deteriorate, and disappears about the time the young bird leaves the nest. Those that migrate northward leave Florida about the first of March ; but none reach New Jersey before the middle of May. In Florida the young are full grown by the 8th of May ; in Xew Jersey, not before the 1st of August : in the former State two broods are raised in a season. Regarding the supposed California form of the White Egret as identical with the eastern egretta, I can find no mention of any peculiar characteristics differing from those found on the Southern Atlantic or the Gulf coast. Dr. Cooper has found the Californian birds abundant in the southern part of that State throughout the year. Being without doubt the l)ird referred to by Dr. Newberry as the Anlea occidentalis, it is found in the summer as far north as the Columbia River. It in all probability breeds throughout this extended range, chiefly in swampy woods near the sea. Dr. Cooper met with a large number in June, in a grove near the mouth of the Santa Margarita River. He also met with it in May near Santa Barbara, and has procured examples also near Fort Mojave. Mr. Ridgway mentions having met Avith this bird once, in June, near Sacramento ; and on several occasions in the vicinity of Pyramid Lake, in the months of December and May. Captain Bendire informs me. January, 1875, that a large heronry of this species exists in the neighborhood of Fort Harney, about seventy-five miles south of Canyon City, Grant County, Oregon. The nests of this Egret vary greatly in position : some are found on the tops of lofty cypress trees from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet from the ground, others on low mangroves not six feet above the water, and others in intermediate ])ositions. The nest is always a large flat structure, composed of sticks loosely put together. It usually overliangs the Avater. and is resorted to year after year by the ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — G-ARZETTA. 27 same pair. When the nest is on a tall tree, the young remain in it or on the branches until they are able to fly ; but Avhen it is near the water or ground, they leave much sooner. The number of eggs in a nest in Florida, according to Audubon, is invariably three. According to Wilson, in New Jersey the number is four or Ave. Audubon gives their size as two and a (quarter inches in length and one and five eighths in breadth, and their color a pale blue, Avhich soon fades. Two eggs in my collection, obtained in Florida by Dr. Bryant, measiire, one 2.30 X 1.52 inches ; the other 2.28 X 1.60 inches. They are oval in shape, nearly equal at either end, and their color is that uniform unspotted Avashing or faint shading of greenish Prussian blue, common to all our herons, the two bitterns alone excepted. Genus GARZETTA, Kaup. Garzetta, Kaup, Nat. Syst. Eur. Tliierw. 1829, 76. Bonap. Consp. II. 1855, 118 (type, Ardca garzctta, Linn.). GrEN. C!har. Small white Herons, crested at all ages and seasons, and in the nuptial season adorned with jugular and dorsal plumes. Bill slender, very little compressed, the cnlmen decidedly but ascending ; the lower edge of the raandibidar rami straight or appreciably concave. Mental curved for the terminal half, somewhat depressed for the basal half ; the gonys nearly straight, G, candidissima. apices falling far short of reaching half-way from the middle of the eye to the point of the bill ; malar apices reaching just as far as the frontal apices, and falling far short of the posterior end of the nostrils. Toes short, the middle one but little more than one half the tarsus, the hallux about one half its length ; bare portion of tibia nearly three fourths as long as the tarsus. Tarsal scutellse as in Herodias. Nuptial plumes adoriung the occiput, jugulum, and back ; these, in the American species, all of similar structure, having decomposed webs ; but in the OLl World species, those of the occiput andjugidum narrow and with compact webs. Dorsal plumes (in all species) reaching but little beyond the tail, and sti'ongly recurved at ends. 28 ALTRICIAL GRALLATOKES — HERODIONES. Of the extralimital species of this genus we have only G. nivea, G-mel., of Europe at hand for comparison. This species bears a close general resemblance to G. candidissima, being of nearly the same size, and having exactly similar scapuUir plumes. The jugular plumes, however, are acicular and somewhat rigid, instead of hairlike, with decomposed webs; while the occipital plumes are entirely different, tliere being two very long, narrow feathers springing from the occiput, very much like those of the species of Ardea. The differences between the two species are more precisely expressed in the following table : — Com. Char. Plumage wholly pure white at all ages and seasons. Dorsal plumes reaching to about the end of the tail, their shafts rigid and more or less strongly recurved at ends, the webs decomposed, with the hlnilla; hairlike, and rather widely separated. 1. G. caudidissima. Occipital crest composed of numerous elongated feathers with their webs decomposed and hairlike; jugular plumes similar. Bill black, yellow at base; iris and eyelids yellow ; tibiae and tarsi black, the lower part of the latter, with toes, yellow. Culmen, 2.08-3.55 ; tarsus, 3.30-4.40 ; wing, 8.20-10.50. Hab. Warmer parts of America. 2. G. nivea.i Occipital crest composed of two or three long, slender, decurved or pendant plumes, with compact webs ; jugular plumes acicular, somewhat rigid. Bill black, the base light green ; tibia and upper half of tarsi black : lower half of latter, with toes, greenish-yellow. Culmen, 3.25-3.75 ; tarsus, 3.60-4.00 ; wing, 10.75. Hab. Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. 3. G. immaculata.- Similar to G. nivea, but without occipital crest, and with the toes blackish. Culmen, 3.70 ; tarsus, 3.75. Hab. Australia. Garzetta candidissima. THE SNOWY HERON. Ardea nivea, Jacq. Beitr. 1784, 18, no. 13 (not of S. G. Gmel. 1770-1774). — Lath. Ind. Orn. 11. 1790, 696 (part). Little White Heron, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 93. Little Egret, Lath. Synop. III. 1785, 90 (part ; includes also G. nivea). Ardea candidissima, Gmel. S. N. I. ii. 1788, 633, no. 45. — Wils. Am. Orn. VII. 1813, 120, pi. 62, fig. 4. — NuTT. Man. II. 1834, 49. — Am. Orn. Biog. III. 1835, 317 ; V. 1839, 606, pi. 242 ; Synop. 1839, 267; Birds Am. VI. 1843, 163, pi. 374. — Coites, Key, 1872, 267; Check List, 1873, 89, no. 453 ; Birds N. W. 1874, 521. — Reichexoav, J. f. 0. 1877, 273. Garzetta candidissima, Boxap. Consp. II. 1855, 119. — Baird, Birds X. Am. 1858, 665; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, no. 485. — Ridgw. Norn. N. Am. B. 1881, no. 490. — CouES, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, no. 659. Ardea oula, Gmel. S. X. I. ii. 1788, 633 (Chili). Ardea thula, L.vrn. lud. Orn. II. 1791, 688. Ardea carolinensis, Ord. ed. Wils. VII. 1825, 125. Ardea lactea, " Cuv." Less. Traite, I. 1831, 575 (Cayenne). Hab. The whole of temperate and tropical America, from the northern United States to Chili and Buenos Ayres ; summer or autumnal visitant only at the northern and southern extremes of its range. West Indies. Sp. Char. Length, about 20.00-24.00 ; expanse of wings, about 36.00-40.00 ; wing, 8.20- 10.50 ; tail, 3.00-4.80 ; culmen, 2.08-3.65 ; depth of bill, .40-.55 ; tarsus, 3.15-4.50 ; middle 1 Garzetta nivea, Gmel. The Little Egret of Europe. Ardea garzetta, Linn. S. N. I. 1766, 237. — Naum. Vrig. Deutschl. IX. 1838, 101, pi. 223. Egretta garzetta, Macgill. Hist. Brit. B. IV. 1852, 471 (Little White Egret). Ardea nivea, S. G. Gmel. Nov. Comm. Petrop. XV. 458, pi. 17. Herodias niven, Breiim, Vog. Deutschl. p. 587. Herodias juhata, Buehm, Vog. Deutschl. p. 586. 2 Garzetta immaculata, Gould. Australian Little Egi-et. Herodias immaculata, Gould, B. Australia, vol. VI. 1S48, pi. 58. ARDEID.E — THE HERONS — GARZETTA. 29 toe, 2.20-3.20; bare portion of tibia, 1.70-2.75; weight, about 10-14 ounces. Color entirely pure white, at all ages and seasons. Bill black, the basal portion of the lower mandible (some- times one-half) yellow, or light colored ; lores, iris, and eyelids, yellow ; tibiae and tarsi black, the lower posterior portion of the latter, with the toes, yellow ; claws blackish. Nuptial plumes slender shafted and loose fibred, those of the back reaching to or slightly beyond the end of the tail, and, normaUy, recurved terminally ; those of the occiput some- times exceeding the bill in length ; those of the jugulum slightly less developed. In the young these are all absent, except on the occiput, where they are but slightly developed ; in the adults the occipital plumes appear to be permanent, the others assumed only during the breed- In this extensively distributed species there is a wide range of variation in size, and, to a less extent, in proportions ; specimens from the Pacific coast of California and Mexico averaging con- siderably larger than those from the eastern United States, while those from northeastern South America are still smaller than the latter. There is not a sufficient amount of material avail- able to determine whether this variation is strictly geographical, or whether other differences constantly accompany these variations. It seems to be a general rule among the bii'ds of this family to vary in the same way, however. As a rule, specimens from Lower California average a little larger, and those from Demerara considerably smaller, than examples from other localities. Examples from Chili are intermediate in size between Demerara sj^ecimens and others from the eastern United States. In the full dress, the bill is deep black, with the extreme base and the lores j'eUow ; the tarsus deep black, the toes yellowish (bright yellow or orange in life), in more or less marked contrast. Winter speci- mens, however, even if possessing the plumes, ha\'e more or less of the basal portion of the lower mandible yellow, but are not otherwise obviously different. Among individuals, even from the same locality, there is a great range of variation in size and proportions ; there is also a con- siderable individual variation in the color of the feet, the yellow being as a rule confined to the toes, but sometimes occupying a greater or less extent of the lower part of the tarsus. Between specimens of the same stage from the eastern United States, the West Indies, Lower California, Demerara, Chili, and Brazil, we can detect no differences other than those of an indi- vidual nature except the very slight geographical one of size, alluded to above.^ The Snowy Egret is one of the most abundant, as well as one of the most widely distributed, of its family. It is found on botli the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts, wandering on both shores several hundred miles farther north than it is known to breed. On the Atlantic a few are sui:)posed to be summer residents as far north as Long Island. From thence southward it is found along the entire Gulf coast, and the shores of both oceans, throughout a very large extent of South America, 1 Since the above was written we have noticed very nearly the extremes of size in a series of these birds from Florida, collected at the same place and at the same time. 30 ALTRICIAL GEALLATORES — HERODIO^'ES. iucludiug the West India Islands, Mexico, and Central America. It is also found distributed through the interior as far north as Oregon and the Great Lakes. INIr. Salvin found it (;[uite common on the Atlantic coast of Central America, and states that it also occasionally visited the Lake of Duenas in the interior. When observed it was usually in companies. On the coast of Honduras he visited one of the breed- ing places of this species, but the nests were mostly deserted, as all the young birds of those still inliabited were able to run along the branches and make their escape. The nests were composed entirely of sticks, and placed near the end of a horizontal bough. He also found this species abundant on the racilic coast of Guatemala. It occasionally visits Bermuda, both in the spring and in the fall. Leotaud sj^eaks of it as a very common, and once a very abundant, bird in Trinidad, where it frequents the borders of the sea and the vicinity of streams and marshes affected by the influ- ences of the tides. Its habits are said to be very similar to those of the larger egretta. Its numbers were rapidly diminishing, and it promised soon to become an extinct species in that island. It is given by Dr. Gundlach as an abundant species in Cuba, Avhere it is resident, and breeds in large communities. In Jamaica, accord- ing to Gosse, it is not so common, and occurs chiefly as a visitant in midwinter. Mr, March mentions it as of frequent occurrence. Mr. C. W. Wyatt found it in Colom- bia, S. A., on the borders of Lake Paturia. Dr. Ikirmeister found it throughout the region of the La Plata even more numerous than the Herodias egretta, especially in the more westerly portions. This species is found in the summer months as far to the northeast as Calais, Me., and a few straggle up the Bay of Pundy, even to the extreme eastern arm of that bay at Windsor, IST. S. J. Matthew Jones states that it has been recently (1868) captured on the sea-coast of that province, near Halifax. A specimen was taken at Windsor, N. S., in the summer of 1872. On Long Island, according to Giraud, it occurs during the summer months, but is not abundant. Yet it is by no means uncommon, and is well known to most of the gunners. It is said to frequent the salt marshes in small ])arties, and may be seen wading about over the mud-flats and sand-bars, or in the shallow water, in search of small crabs, lizards, and worms, which, with several species of aquatic plants, con- stitute its principal food. The Snowy Heron always feeds by day ; and when wading about in search of its favorite food, or while making short excursions, it is rendered so conspicuous by the snowy whiteness of its plumage, that it seldom passes unob- served by the gunners. It visits Long Island late in the spring, and may be seen on the salt marshes until late in the autumn, though it usually migrates southwards in the last of September. It is not ])Ositively knoAvn to breed on any part of Long Island. In August, 1863, Mr. Dresser saw large flocks of this Heron visiting the lagoons near Matamoras, in such large numbers that on one occasion he killed thirteen at one discharge. In the spring of 1864 lie noticed several near San Antonio, and found a few breeding on Glalveston Island in June, and received one from Fort Stockton. Dr. Cooper speaks of it as common, at all seasons, along the southern coast of Cali- fornia. In summer it migrates to the summits of the Sierra oSTevada, to Lake Tahoe, and probably throughout California and Oregon. He has always found it very shy, more so even than the larger white one. About the end of April it migrates to some extent from the southern parts of the State in large flocks, but he has met with it in July near San Pedro, when he supposed that it was nesting in the mountains, or some other retired places, in the vicinity. About the middle of May, Wilson visited an extensive breeding place of this Heron ARDEID^E — TFIE HERONS — GARZETTA. 31 among the red cedars of Siimmer's Beach, on the coast of Cape May. The place was sheltered from the Atlantic by a range of sand-hills, and on its land side was a fresh- water marsh. The cedars were not high, but were so closely crowded together as to render it difficult to penetrate through them. Some trees contained three, others four nests, built Avholly of sticks. The eggs, usually three in number, measured Ij inches by 1^. The birds rose, without clamor, in vast numbers, and alighted on the tops of the trees around. Wilson adds that this Heron was seen at all times during the summer anumg the salt marshes, searching for food, or passing in flocks from one ])art of the bay to the other. It often made excursions up the rivers and inlets, but returned regularly in the evening to the cedars to roost. He also found the same species early in June on the Mississippi as far \ip as Fort Adams, among the creeks and inundated woods. According to Audubon, it is a resident throughout the year in Florida and in Louisiana. It is very sensitive to cold, and does not remain in severe weather near Charleston, nor return there in the spring before the ISth of March. It reaches New Jersey the first week in jVIay. In its migrations it flies, both by night and by day, in loose flocks of from twenty to a hundred, sometimes in lines, but usually in a straggling manner. It is silent, and flies at a height rarely more than a hundred yards. Its flight seems undetermined, yet is well sustained. In the breeding season it has been observed to exhibit the most singular movements, now and then tumbling over and o\'er, in the manner of the Tumbler Pigeon. It breeds in large communities, is very social, and does not disturb such birds as seek to breed in its neighborhood. Several nests are sometimes built in the same tree, and occa- sionally so low that a person can easily see into them. Where it has been disturbed it breeds in taller trees, but very rarely in high ones. The nest is usually over water. The structure is rather small, is built of dry sticks, and has a shallow cavity. The eggs are usually three, measure 1{^ inches in length, and 1^ in breadth, and are broadly elliptical in form. Audubon states that while in the Carolinas, in the month of April, this l)ird resorts to the borders of the salt-water marshes, and feeds prin- cipally on shrimps. At the time the shrimps are ascending the Mississippi Eiver this Heron is frequently seen standing on floating logs busily engaged in picking them up. At later periods it feeds on small fry, crabs, snails, aquatic insects, small lizards, and young frogs. This Heron, more than any other kind, is what Mr. N. B. Moore designates as a scraper, or mker, because it uses its legs and claws to start from their hiding-places such animals as it wishes to seize for food — namely, crawfish, tadpoles, suckers, aquatic insects, etc. In this movement it far surpasses all other species, and man- ages its legs with greater adroitness and rapidity. On Feb. 18, 1873, he watched a flock of seventy making their meal, being himself concealed within a few steps. In the same pond were a number of the egretta, and a few of other kinds. Scarcely one of this species obtained any food without raking for it, numbers being thus engaged at the same time. The use of the foot was so rapid as to cause the whole body to quiver. The scrapers Avill thus work sometimes in water so deep as to reach their bellies, and at times in water only an inch or two deep. Each species has its own peculiar mode of managing its feet. On April 27, 1867, Mr. Moore visited a heronry in Louisiana, where this species and the Little Blue Heron were breeding in close proximity. He climbed to a tree- top, where he could look down upon many nests. In seventy belonging to this species he found, in ten five eggs in each, in a large majority four eggs in each, while some had only one egg. 32 ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — HERODIONES. During the summer, in Louisiana, the young of this species resort to commons and dry pastures, to feed on insects of many kinds. Mr. Moore has seen a flock of a dozen hovering pretty close together above a shoal of minnows in the bay, settling down with their legs hanging and dangling near the water, and attempting to seize them by reaching down their bills. In the confusion of wings, legs, and necks so near together, it was impossible to tell whether they took any fish, but he presumes that they did. He has found their eggs from the 10th to the 25th of April, and a second brood on the 1st of June. Two eggs of this Heron, in my collection, taken by Dr. Bryant in Florida, have an oval shape, are equally rounded at either end, and are of a uniform liglit greenish-blue tint. There is just a shade more of green tinting the Prussian blue in this than in the other kinds of Heron. One egg measures 1.87 inches in length by 1.36 inches in breadth ; the other is 1.80 inches long by 1.30 inches in breadth. The egg is more oblong than that of the ccerulea, but is more rounded than that of the ludoviciana. Genus DICHROMANASSA, Ridgway. <'' Demiegretta" (nee Blyth), Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 660 (part). = Dichromanassa, Kidgw. Bull. U. S. Geol. & Geog. Survey, Terr. IV. no. 1, Feb. 5, 1878, 246. Type, Ardea rufa, Bodd.