peck at you with great spirit, and are capable of inflicting a severe
wound.
There is no difference between the sexes as to plumage, but the male
is somewhat larger. When in good condition, its flesh is excellent eating,
especially in early autumn, when it is generally very fat. Some may be seen
for sale in the markets of New Orleans and other southern cities. They
return southward from the Middle Districts early in October, but in the
Carolinas they remain until the first frosts, when they all depart for the
Floridas, where I found them during the whole winter in considerable
numbers, associating with the Blue Herons.
ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of Birds of the United States, p. 305.
SNOWY HERON, ARDEA CANDIDISSIMA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. vii. p. 120. pi. 62.
fig. 4 Nuttall, Manual, vol. ii. p. 49.
Adult Male in full spring plumage. Plate CCXLII.
Bill longer than the head, straight, compressed, tapering to a point,
the mandibles nearly equal. Upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly
straight, the ridge broad and slightly convex at the base, narrowed towards
the end, a groove from the base to two-thirds of its length, beneath
which the sides are convex, the edges thin and sharp, with a slight notch
close to the very acute tip. Nostrils basal, linear, longitudinal, with a
membrane above and behind. Lower mandible with the angle extremely
narrow and elongated, the dorsal line beyond it ascending and almost
straight, the edges sharp and slightly inflected, the tip acuminate.
Head rather small, oblong, compressed. Neck very long and slender.
Body slender and compressed. Feet very long; tibia elongated, its lower
half bare, very, slender, covered all round with angular scales, of which
the posterior are scutelliform ; tarsus elongated, slender, compressed, anteriorly
covered with numerous scutella, laterally and behind with angular
scales. Toes of moderate length, rather slender, scutellate above, reticularly
granulate beneath ; third toe much longer than second, which is
very little shorter than fourth, the hind toe much shorter but strong.
Claws rather small, arched, compressed, acute, that of hind toe much
larger, the inner edge of that of the third regularly pectinate.
Space between the bill and eye, and around the latter, bare, as is the
lower half of the tibia. Plumage soft and blended. Feathers of the upper
and hind part of the head, very long, loose, decurved; of the sides,
and especially of the lower part of the neck, also much elongated ; of the
middle of the back very long, loose, and hanging over the sides and rump,
but with their extremities recurved. Wings of moderate length; primaries
tapering and rounded, the third longest, the second very little
shorter, first and fourth about equal; secondaries broad and rounded,
some of the inner as long as the longest primaries, when the wing is closed.
Tail very short, small, slightly rounded, of twelve rather weak feathers.
Bill black, the bare space at its base yellow. Iris and edges of eyelids
yellow. Tibia and tarsus black, the lower part of the latter behind
and the toes bright yellow; claws bluish black. The plumage is pure
white.
Length to end of tail 2 2 | inches, to end of wings 23, to end of claws
3 0 | ; extent of wings 38 ; wing from flexure 10|-; tail 3 ; loose feathers
^2 beyond the tail; bill along the ridge 3 ^ ; along the edge of lower
mandible 3 | ; bare part of tibia °4; tarsus 3\£ ; middle toe 2 | , its claw
TV Weight 12 oz.
VOL. nt