Bill longer than the head, stout, tapering, compressed, pointed, its
edges often irregularly serrate. Head oblong, compressed; neck very
long; body much compressed. Eyes large or moderate. Nostrils basal,
linear, longitudinal. Legs long, rather slender; tibia bare to a great
extent; tarsus compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes rather long,
the first on the same place, of moderate size, the outer toe a little
longer than the inner, and with a slight web at the base; all
compressed and scutellate. Claws rather long, arched, compressed,
acute, that of the hind toe larger and more curved. Plumage blended.
Wings long, very broad, with the outer four quills longest,
secondaries very long. Tail very short, nearly even, of twelve rather
weak feathers. Œsophagus very wide, without dilatation; stomach
small, very thin, with the inner coat soft and smooth; intestine very
long and extremely narrow; no cœcal appendages, but the large
intestine forming a small sac at its commencement; cloaca very large,
globular. Trachea simple, generally cylindrical, with the bronchi
wide, and a single pair of slender inferior laryngeal muscles. Nests
large, flat, widely constructed, placed on trees, bushes, sometimes on
the ground; eggs from three to four, oval, light blue. Young remain in
the nest until fledged.
GENUS I. ARDEA, Linn. HERON.
* Night Herons. Bill slightly longer than the head, stout,
tapering, compressed, with the upper outline somewhat curved;
legs of moderate length, bare part of tibia short; neck thick;
body full; feathers of the neck elongated and curved
backwards.