lll‘IRUXS AND BITTERNS. 135

generally seen in flocks. With A. cundt'dissinzu they lack the patience ml the larger lleruns and pursue their prey in shallow water.

199. Ardea. tricolor ruﬂcollis (Um-st l. l.Hl'I.\‘I.\.\'.v\ llliltlIN. l-lrl. mlfpper parts dark bluish slate—elder; baek ml the head and upper neek \\ith elnnwated ehesttntt~rutiuts and white feathers: baek with pale brmrnish gray

“ an

'ettol' plumes reaching to the tail; leu'er baek. rump. and belly uhite;

ueek bluish slate-eulur; threat white, an indistinct rutbus line dawn the mid- dle ot' the tin'eneek: legs blaekish: base 01‘ the hill and lures bluish. 1m:— Thrnat. and an indistinet line LlUWIl the lbreneek. white : rest ot'the head and neek brownish rutbus; upper baek and “inu‘s bluish slate-eolnr, more or less washed with brewuish ruthus : nu plumes: ltm er baek. rump. and belly white; breast with nmre ur less slat)‘ streaks: legs )‘elluu‘ behind. blaekish bel'ure: lower mandible and lures urange; upper mandible blaek. L.‘ 261,qu “1,1000; Tina, 370; 15., 3-90.

l.‘111q/e.#(.'entral America and West Indies northward tn the Gulf States; easnall)‘ t<> Inn),r Island.

Len}: island. A. \'.. ene reeord.

Alst. a plattbrm ot' stieks in eulenies. in bushes over water Jim/s, tour tn live, pale. dttll blue. 1'73 x 1'33.

A common speeies in Florida. where it is: found both singly and in lloeks. It is sumetimes a slow, stealthy feeder. and at others dashes fur its prey.

200. Ardea. cwrulea. IJ/«n. LXTTIJ-l BLI'E Iliznox. .-1«1.—Ilea<l and neck marnnu~ehestnut1 rest of the plumage dark bluish slateawlnr; inter~ seapulars and lu\\‘et‘ neek leathers lengthened and narrowly pointed: lores blue; legs and feet blaek. Inni‘vlllik‘. the plumage Stilllt,‘tilllt’.\' mnre (71‘ less \\':t>llutl with slat)‘: Hut (/er Igl'f/n [mi/”mm "limb/x Minis/I slut,_m1m-: 19:35, feet, and lures {/r. t'IIi-N/I (yr/Mr. 1“. 21'0“: \\‘.. limit; Tara 3'7”: ll. mm.

It’. nun-12m?Benn-en the yuun;r and adult there is every stage at" inter» gradatiun 01' eulnr. sume speeimens being irrexularl}~ marked with blue and white in £1l)ttllit‘|lll:|l prupnrtinns. Ynutm birds are smnetinn-s mistaken for Snow_\' llert'ms. but eun al\\a_\‘s be distinguished by the greenish ytrlltm' legs and slat)‘ tips 01' the primaries.

1-.’«uzyc.—'l‘rol)ieal and temperate .\meriea. breedin;r as Far ntu‘th as south— ern llliums and Virginia; after the breeding :~t‘ times reaelting‘ Novv

ason wanders nerthward, some-

Sentia.

\\';ishiur_rtnn. easual in July and August : smnetinn-s quite eminunn. Inn}: island. ‘are from .\pl. to Sept.

Nest, a platterm ut' stieks. in eolnuies. in bushes m‘er watt-r. ligys, three tn lbur. pale. dull blue. l‘Ttl x 1'21“.

Thanks to their laek of “aigrette " plumes Little Blue Herons ﬂl't‘ probably the must eummon Herons in lt‘lurida 10-day. They are gren- e‘ally fuund in tlueks. smuetiutes emnposed entirely of blue adults. stunetimes ml White. immature birds. and at Others both young and old are assneiated. The white birds resemble .vi. (‘rtlzdl'zllsst'ntrn bttt the