369. 5. Ardea virescens, Linn. Green Heron.
Plate CCCXXXIII. Male and Young.
Bill rather slender; feathers of the crown and occiput elongated, of the fore part of the back much elongated and acuminate. Upper part of the head and nape glossy deep green; neck purplish-red behind, with an anterior longitudinal band of white, spotted with dusky brown; elongated feathers of the back greyish-green, changing to bluish-grey, with the shafts bluish-white; scapulars, wing-coverts, and inner secondaries deep glossy green, bordered with yellowish-white; primaries and outer secondaries greyish-blue tinged with green; hind part of back and tail deep green; lower parts pale purplish tinged with yellow; lower tail-coverts greyish-white. Young in first plumage without the elongated feathers on the back, otherwise similar, but with the wing-coverts tipped with a triangular white spot, the lower parts chiefly white with brown streaks.
Male, 173/4, 27. Female, 17, 25.
Resident in the Floridas and along the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. In spring and summer disperses over the whole country as far as Maine, and up the Missouri. Returns southward at the approach of winter. Very common.
Green Heron, Ardea virescens, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 97.
Ardea virescens, Bonap. Syn. p. 307.
Green Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 63.
Green Heron, Ardea virescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 274.
*** Bill much longer than the head, with its outline scarcely curved; legs very long, tibiæ bare to a great extent; feathers of the lower fore neck very long and tapering. Ardea and Egretta of authors.
370. 6. Ardea occidentalis, Aud. Great White Heron.
Plate CCLXXXI. Male.
Bill, tibiæ, and hind part of tarsi yellow; anterior part of the latter and toes dull green; feathers of the head elongated, lanceolate, and loose, of the back not much elongated; plumage entirely pure white.