This Heron is of about the size of the Reddish Egret, but the neck is longer, more slender and dark, while the chin, throat and underparts are white. The plumes from the back are short, reaching barely to the end of the tail. They nest in large colonies in company with Egrets and Little Blue Herons, placing their nests in the mangroves, only a few feet above the water. Their nests are the same as those of the other species, a slight platform of sticks, and the three to five eggs are practically not distinguishable from those of the Snowy or Little Blue Herons. Size 1.75 × 1.35. [Illustration 125: Pale bluish green.] [Illustration: Reddish Egret. Louisiana Heron.] [Illustration: Pale bluish green.] [Illustration: right hand margin.] Page 124 200. LITTLE BLUE HERON. _Florida cærulea._ Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north casually to New England and Manitoba; west to Kansas and Nebraska. A smaller species than the preceding, length 22 inches, plumage a uniform slaty blue changing to purplish red on the head and neck. They also have a white phase, but always show traces of the slaty blue, especially on the primaries. Young birds are always white. They breed in immense rookeries during April and May. Their nesting habits and eggs are very similar to the last species, although the eggs average a trifle smaller. Size 1.75 × 1.25. Data.--Avery's Island, Louisiana, April 21, 1896. 5 eggs. Nest a flat and frail platform of twigs in a Mimosa tree growing in floating turf, over deep water in a large swamp. Collector, E. A. McIlhenny. 201. GREEN HERON. _Butorides virescens virescens._ Range.--Temperate and sub-tropical America, breeding north to the British Provinces. This is the smallest of our Herons, and is well known all over the country. Sometimes they breed in numbers in rookeries, in company with the larger Herons, but in most sections of the country they will be found nesting, one or two pairs together, along the border of some swamp or stream. They have a greater diversity of building sites, than do any of the other Herons and frequently nest a long ways from water. Their nests may be found in alders, birches or even apple trees. It is the usual Heron type of platform, upon which the three to six eggs are laid. They are a pale greenish blue in color, and measure 1.45 × 1.10. Data.--Avery's Island, Louisiana, April 10, 1894. 5 eggs on a platform of twigs placed in a willow tree growing on the edge of a pond. Collected by E. A. McIlhenny. [Illustration 126: Pale bluish green.] [Illustration: Little Blue Heron. Green Heron.] [Illustration: Light bluish green.] [Illustration: left hand margin.] Page 125 201a. FRAZAR'S GREEN HERON. _Butorides virescens frazari._ A darker variety found in Lower California; nesting the same as the common species. 201b. ANTHONY'S GREEN HERON. _Butorides virescens anthonyi._ A lighter, desert form found in the arid portions of the interior of southwestern United States and Mexico.