Plate CCXVII. Male.
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated, tapering,
curved, about six of them larger and much longer; of the back
extremely elongated, with loose threadlike filaments, extending beyond
the tail; bill brownish-black above, yellow beneath; feet light
greenish-yellow, with the scutella dusky; general colour of upper
parts light purplish-blue; elongated feathers of head and neck above,
reddish-purple, as are those of the lower part of the neck; six
longest feathers of head white; elongated loose feathers of back dull
purplish-yellow; throat white, its lower part chestnut; a line of
white down the fore neck; rump and lower parts pure white, except the
anterior feathers of the breast, which have their inner webs dusky
blue. Young with the neck and fore part of the back light
brownish-red; throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the
back; quills, larger wing-coverts and tail light purplish-blue.
Plumage and colouring completed at the end of the second year.
_Male_, 27, 37.
Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it is abundant. Migrates
eastward to New Jersey, where it is rare; up the Mississippi to
Natchez. Never seen far inland.
Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii.
p. 13.
Ardea Ludoviciana, Bonap. Syn. p. 305.
Louisiana Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 51.
Louisiana Heron, Ardea Ludoviciana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
136; v. v. p. 605.