Plate CCCXXXVI. Male and Young.
Male with the feathers on the upper part of the head lanceolate and
acuminate, those on the occiput very long and linear; between the
scapulæ two longitudinal series of very elongated feathers with loose
margins, the longest extending far beyond the tail; occipital and
dorsal plumes not present in winter; head and throat greenish-black,
crown and band on each side below the eye white, the former tinged
with reddish-yellow; general colours light greyish-blue; the feathers
of the fore part of the back and wings with their central parts
bluish-black, margined with bluish-white; quills and tail dark
greyish-blue; edge of wings white. Female similar. Young in its first
plumage dark greyish-white, beneath dull yellowish-white, streaked
with dark brown.
_Adult_, 23-1/2, 43-1/2. _Young_ in October 23-1/2, 40.
A few spend the winter in Florida. Migrates in spring as far as New
Jersey, up the Mississippi to Natchez. Never goes far inland. Not very
abundant. Migratory.
Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v.
viii. p. 26.
Ardea violacea, Bonap. Syn. p. 306.
White-crowned Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 52.
Yellow-crowned Heron, Ardea violacea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv.
p. 290.
Bitterns. Bill considerably longer than the head, stout, tapering,
compressed, with the upper outline slightly curved; legs of moderate
length, bare part of tibia short; neck thick; body exceedingly
compressed; feathers of the neck elongated and curved backwards.
Trachea and bronchi wider.