GENUS II. TANTALUS, Linn. TANTALUS
Bill long, stout, at the base as wide as the face, deeper than broad, compressed, tapering towards the end, which is decurved; upper mandible with the ridge rather broad and flattened at the base, narrowed at the middle, convex towards the end, the sides sloping at the base, convex toward the end, the edges inflected and sharp, the tip declinate, rounded, with a notch on each side; nostrils basal, close to the ridge, direct, oblong; lower mandible with the angle rather wide, with a bare dilatable membrane, the edges erect and sharp, the tip blunted. Head of ordinary size, and with part of the hind neck bare and scurfy. Feet very long, like those of the Herons; tibia and tarsus reticulate; hind toe rather large, third longest; claws small, arched, that of the third toe not serrate. Wings long, ample, with the third quill longest. Tail of twelve broad rounded feathers.
363. 1. Tantalus Loculator, Linn. Wood Ibis
Plate CCXVI. Male.
Head all round, and hind neck half-way down, destitute of feathers, the skin wrinkled and covered with irregular scurfy scales; bill dusky yellowish-brown, sides of head dark bluish-purple, upper part of head horn-colour; legs indigo-blue; toes yellowish, with the scutella black; plumage white, tinged with yellow; alula, primary coverts, primary and secondary quills, excepting the inner, and tail, black, with green and purplish-blue reflections. Young dusky grey all over, the quills and tail brown and black, the head covered with down.
Male, 441/2, 62; bill, 9.
Resident from Texas to North Carolina, in deep woody swamps; or fresh-water lakes, not on the sea-shores; breeds on trees in swamps; moves in large flocks. Up the Mississippi to Natchez. Abundant in Florida and Lower Louisiana.
Wood Ibis, Tantalus Loculator, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 39.
Tantalus Loculator, Bonap. Syn. p. 310.
Wood Ibis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 82.
Wood Ibis, Tantalus Loculator, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 128.
GENUS III. PLATALEA, Linn. SPOONBILL
Bill very long, excessively depressed, being, when viewed laterally, very slender; but, when seen from above, nearly as broad as the head at the base, considerably contracted in the middle, and at the end expanded into a large obovate disk much broader than the head; upper mandible with the dorsal line almost straight, at the tip decurved, the ridge extremely broad and flat, gradually widening beyond the nostrils, at the end terminated by the very small, decurved, blunt unguis, the sides declinate at the base, horizontally flattened towards the end, separated in their whole length from the ridge by a narrow groove, their margins soft and blunt; lower mandible with the angle very long, narrow, rounded, the coma narrow, and gradually flattened, the extremity expanded into a flattened disk, as in the upper; both mandibles covered with soft skin, which, for half their length, is rough, with roundish plates, having their anterior margin somewhat prominent. Nostrils basal, oblong-linear, of moderate size. Head of moderate size, flattened above; neck long and slender; body compact, ovate; legs long and rather stout; tibia bare in its lower half, and reticulate; tarsus rather long, stout, roundish, covered all round with subhexagonal scales; toes rather long, moderately stout, scutellate, at the base reticulate; first more slender, articulated at the same level, second considerably shorter than third. Claws moderate, arched, compressed, laterally grooved, rather obtuse. Head, gular sac, and a small part of neck, destitute of feathers. Wings long and very broad, the second quill longest. Tail short, even, of twelve rather broad feathers. Tongue extremely small, broader than long; gular sac dilatable; œsophagus wide, with a dilatation at the lower part of the neck; proventriculus bulbiform; stomach a powerful gizzard, roundish, with large muscular fasciculi not disposed into distinct muscles, the epithelium very thick, longitudinally fissured; intestine very long, of moderate width; cœca two slight knobs.
364. 1. Platalea Ajaja, Linn. Roseate Spoonbill
Plate CCCXXI. Male.
Bill greyish-blue, at the base mottled with dusky; feet pale lake; head yellowish-green; space around the eye and gular sac orpiment-orange; a band of black from the lower mandible to the occiput; feathers of the neck white; back and wings rose-coloured; lower parts of a deeper colour; tuft of recurved feathers on fore neck, a broad band across the wing, along the cubitus, and the upper and lower tail-coverts, rich carmine, with silky lustre; shafts of quills and scapulars light carmine; on each side of the lower part of the neck a patch of pale ochre; tail-feathers ochre-yellow, but at the base roseate.
Male, 303/4, 53. Female, 28, 48.
Constant resident in the Texas, South Florida, and as far eastward as North Carolina, where it is however very rare. Occasionally in summer up the Mississippi to Natchez. Breeds in flocks on trees, low bushes, or cactuses.
Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea Ajaja, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 123.
Platalea Ajaja, Bonap. Syn. p. 346.
Roseate Spoonbill, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 79.
Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea Ajaja, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 188.
FAMILY XXXVIII. ARDEINÆ. HERONS
Bill longer than the head, stout, tapering, compressed, pointed, its edges often irregularly serrate. Head oblong, compressed; neck very long; body much compressed. Eyes large or moderate. Nostrils basal, linear, longitudinal. Legs long, rather slender; tibia bare to a great extent; tarsus compressed, anteriorly scutellate; toes rather long, the first on the same place, of moderate size, the outer toe a little longer than the inner, and with a slight web at the base; all compressed and scutellate. Claws rather long, arched, compressed, acute, that of the hind toe larger and more curved. Plumage blended. Wings long, very broad, with the outer four quills longest, secondaries very long. Tail very short, nearly even, of twelve rather weak feathers. Œsophagus very wide, without dilatation; stomach small, very thin, with the inner coat soft and smooth; intestine very long and extremely narrow; no cœcal appendages, but the large intestine forming a small sac at its commencement; cloaca very large, globular. Trachea simple, generally cylindrical, with the bronchi wide, and a single pair of slender inferior laryngeal muscles. Nests large, flat, widely constructed, placed on trees, bushes, sometimes on the ground; eggs from three to four, oval, light blue. Young remain in the nest until fledged.
GENUS I. ARDEA, Linn. HERON
* Night Herons. Bill slightly longer than the head, stout, tapering, compressed, with the upper outline somewhat curved; legs of moderate length, bare part of tibia short; neck thick; body full; feathers of the neck elongated and curved backwards.
365. 1. Ardea Nycticorax, Linn. Black-crowned Night Heron. – Qua-Bird
Plate CCXXXVI. Adult and Young.
Male with the feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated and loose, three or four very long linear, incurved occipital feathers, not present in winter; upper part of the head and back glossy blackish-green; anterior part of forehead and elongated occipital feathers white; neck anteriorly yellowish-white, on the sides and behind shaded into pale lilac, the lower elongated feathers tinged with cream-colour; breast and abdomen white; wings, rump, and tail light greenish-blue, tinged with lilac. Female similar. Young, when fledged, with the upper parts pale purplish-brown, streaked and spotted with yellowish-white; lower parts yellowish-white, streaked with light purplish-brown. Young after first moult purplish-brown, tinged with grey above, brownish-white beneath, the upper part of the head dull greenish-black.
Male, 257/12, 44.
Resident in the Floridas and Texas, where it breeds. Migrates in spring eastward as far as Maine, up the Mississippi to Memphis. Occurs one hundred miles inland. Rather common. Returns southward early in autumn.
Night Heron or Qua-Bird, Ardea Nycticorax, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 3.
Ardea Nycticorax, Bonap. Syn. p. 306.
Qua-Bird or American Night Heron, Ardea discors, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 54.
Night Heron, Ardea Nycticorax, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 275; v. v. p. 600.
366. 2. Ardea violacea, Linn. Yellow-crowned Night Heron
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, 231/2, 431/2. Young in October 231/2, 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.
367. 3. Ardea lentiginosa, Swains. American Bittern
Plate CCCXXXVII. Male and Female.
Feathers of the head and occiput elongated and loose; tail of ten feathers; bill and feet dull yellowish-green; upper part of head brownish-grey; a streak of pale buff on the eye; cheek and an oblique band to the middle of the neck light brownish-yellow, beneath which a dusky brown band from the base of the lower mandible, continuous with a gradually enlarged band of black running along the sides of the neck; upper parts yellowish-brown, patched, mottled, freckled, and barred with dark-brown; most of the quills deep greyish-blue, tipped with light reddish-brown; fore part of neck white above, yellowish-white beneath, the throat with a middle longitudinal line of yellowish-brown spots; on the rest of the neck each feather with a light brown central mark edged with darker; the rest of the lower parts dull yellowish-white, most of the feathers marked like those on the neck. Female similar, but with the upper part of the head reddish-brown.
Male, 27, 45. Female, 261/2, 421/2.
Winter resident in the Floridas. Migrates over most part of the United States. Not seen in Kentucky. Abundant in Texas. Migratory.
American Bittern, Ardea minor, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 35.
Ardea minor, Bonap. Syn. p. 307.
American Bittern, Ardea lentiginosa, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 374.
American Bittern, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 60.
American Bittern, Ardea minor, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 296.
368. 4. Ardea exilis, Wils. Least Bittern
Plate CCX. Male, Female, and Young.
Bill rather slender; feathers on the crown and occiput somewhat elongated and loose. Male with the upper part of the head, back, and tail, glossy greenish-black, some of the lateral feathers edged with white; sides of head and hind part of neck light chestnut; wing-coverts brownish-yellow; quills purplish-grey, tipped with yellowish-brown, inner secondaries broadly margined with light chestnut, of which colour also are the secondary coverts and edge of the wing at the flexure; throat and fore neck reddish-white, with a series of reddish-brown spots; fore part of breast, under the elongated feathers, blackish-brown; the rest of the lower parts reddish-white; tibia reddish-brown in front. Female smaller, with the colours duller, the upper part of the head inclining to brown. Young with the upper parts light brownish-red, variegated with brownish-yellow; primary quills and tail black.
Male, 131/2, 173/4. Female, 12, wing 143/4.
Resident in Florida. Migrates in spring eastward as far as Maine, and throughout the Western Country, far up the Missouri. Retires southward in winter. Texas.
Least Bittern, Ardea exilis, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 37.
Ardea exilis, Bonap. Syn. p. 308.
Least Bittern, Ardea exilis, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 66.
Least Bittern, Ardea exilis, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 77; v. v. p. 606.
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.
Male, 54, 83. Female, 50, 75.
Resident in the Southern Florida Keys. Texas. Never seen to the eastward of Cape Florida, nor on the mainland. Common.
Great White Heron, Ardea occidentals, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 542; v. v. p. 596.
371. 7. Ardea Herodias, Linn. Great Blue Heron
Plate CCXI. Male.
Bill dusky green above, yellow beneath; feet dull green, paler behind; feathers of the head long, tapering, decurved, two of them extremely elongated; very long, tapering, pointed feathers from the anterior part of the back; forehead pure white, the rest of the crest feathers bluish-black; throat white, neck pale purplish-brown, the elongated feathers beneath greyish-white, with part of the inner webs purplish-blue, forming a longitudinal band; upper parts light greyish-blue, the elongated tips of the dorsal feathers greyish-white; edge of the wing, some feathers at the base of the fore neck, and the tibial feathers, brownish-orange; two tufts of large curved feathers on the fore part of the breast bluish-black, some of them with a central stripe of white; lower surface of wings and sides light greyish-blue; elongated feathers of breast, white, their inner edge black, of the abdomen chiefly black; lower tail-coverts white, some of them with an oblique mark of black near the tip. Young in first plumage without the elongated dorsal feathers, the colours duller and tinged with brown; upper part of head streaked with white, as is the breast.
Male, 48, 72.
Resident from Texas to South Carolina. In spring migrates over the United States, and along the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of St Lawrence. Breeds everywhere. Retires southward in autumn. Common.
Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.
Ardea Herodias, Bonap. Syn. p. 304.
Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 42.
Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 87; v. v. p. 599.
372. 8. Ardea Egretta, Gmel. Great American White Egret
Plate CCCLXXXVI. Male.
Feathers of the head scarcely elongated, those of the fore part of the back extremely long, slightly decurved, with loose filaments, and extending about ten inches beyond the tail; bill yellow; feet black; plumage pure white. Young white, the elongated feathers not fully developed until the second year, bill greenish-black.
Male, 37, 57.
Resident in Florida, and Galveston Bay in Texas. Migrates in spring sometimes as far as Massachusetts; up the Mississippi, to Natchez, Breeds in all intermediate districts. Returns south before winter. Very Abundant.
Ardea Egretta, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 629.
Great White Heron, Ardea Egretta, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.
Ardea alba, Bonap. Syn. p. 304.
Ardea Egretta, Wagler, Syst. Av.
Great White Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 47.
Great American Egret, Ardea Egretta, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 600.
373. 9. Ardea rufescens, Gmel. Reddish Egret
Plate CCLVI. Adult and Young.
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head and of the neck generally, much elongated, very narrow, loose, with linear-acuminate compact tips; of the back extremely long, slightly recurved, with loose filaments, and extending several inches beyond the tail; bill pale flesh-colour, with the terminal third black; feet ultramarine blue, the scutella bluish-black; plumage of the head and neck light reddish-brown; back and wings greyish-blue; long train-feathers yellowish toward the end; lower parts greyish-blue, paler than the upper. Young with the plumage white, the feet dusky green, the soles yellow.
Male, 31, 46.
Resident on the Florida Keys, and in Galveston Bay. Never seen inland. Extremely abundant.
Ardea rufescens, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 628.
Peale's Egret Heron, Ardea Pealii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p. 96. Young.
Peak's Egret, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 49. Young.
Reddish Egret, Ardea rufescens, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 411; v. v. p. 604.
374. 10. Ardea cœrulea, Linn. Blue Heron
Plate CCCVII. Male and Young.
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head very long and linear; of the middle of the back extremely long, linear-acuminate, compact, their tips extending about five inches beyond the tail; bill blue; feet black; plumage of head and neck vinaceous purple, of the other parts deep greyish-blue. Young with the plumage white, becoming patched with blue as they advance in age.
Male, 241/2, 42.
Resident in Florida and Texas, where it breeds. In spring migrates as far as Long Island; up the Mississippi to a hundred miles above Natchez. Never seen far inland.
Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 117.
Ardea cœrulea, Bonap. Syn. p. 300.
Blue Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 58.
Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 58.
375. 11. Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Louisiana Heron
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.