Ardea cærulea, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 509. Florida cærulea, Baird, Brew., et Ridgw. Water-B. N. A. i. p. 43.
Description.—Dark bluish plumbeous; head and neck purplish chestnut; bill blue, blackish at the end; feet black: whole length 20·0 inches, wing 9·0, tail 3·6. Female similar.
Hab. North and South America.
This well-known North-American Heron extends far to the south. Natterer obtained examples at several places in the province of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Dr. Burmeister tells us that he met with it on the Rio Negro, and also near Mercedes in the Argentine Republic.
[319.] ARDEA SIBILATRIX, Temm.
(WHISTLING HERON.)
Ardea sibilatrix, Temm. Pl. Col. 271; Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 125; iid. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 634 (Buenos Ayres); White, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 624 (Salta); Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 271 (Entrerios).
Description.—Above grey; cap, occipital crest, and wing-feathers greyish black; large patch behind the eye rufous; upper wing-coverts rufous, striped with grey: beneath white, breast tinged with yellowish; bill reddish, tip black; feet black: whole length 22·0 inches, wing 11·5, tail 4·5, tarsus 3·4. Female similar.
Hab. South America.
This is a beautiful bird, with plumage as soft as down to the touch. Its colours are clear blue-grey and pale yellow, the under surface being nearly white. In some specimens that I have obtained the rump and tail-coverts had a pure primrose hue. There is a chestnut mark on the side of the head; the eye is white, and the legs dark green in life.