What is "ardea herodias"

Crane \Crane\ (kr[=a]n), n. [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan, G. kranich, krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. ge`ranos, L. grus, W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav[i^], Lith. gerve, Icel. trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. [root]24. Cf. Geranium.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.

   Note: The common European crane is Grus cinerea. The sand-hill crane ( Grus Mexicana) and the whooping crane ( Grus Americana) are large American species. The Balearic or crowned crane is Balearica pavonina. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and cormorants.

2. Any arm which swings about a vertical axis at one end, used for supporting a suspended weight.

3. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of Derrick.

4. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.

5. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.

6. (Naut.) A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., -- generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2.

7. (Zo["o]l.) The American blue heron ( Ardea herodias).

   Crane fly (Zo["o]l.), a dipterous insect with long legs, of the genus Tipula.

   Derrick crane. See Derrick.

   Gigantic crane. (Zo["o]l.) See Adjutant, n., 3.

   Traveling crane, Traveler crane, Traversing crane (Mach.), a crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead crane consisting of a crab or other hoisting apparatus traveling on rails or beams fixed overhead, as in a machine shop or foundry.

   Water crane, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout, for filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with water.

Heron \Her"on\, n. [OE. heiroun, heroun, heron, hern, OF. hairon, F. h['e]ron, OHG. heigir; cf. Icel. hegri, Dan. heire, Sw. h["a]ger, and also G. h["a]her jay, jackdaw, OHG. hehara, higere, woodpecker, magpie, D. reiger heron, G. reiher, AS. hr[=a]gra. Cf. Aigret, Egret.] (Zo["o]l.) Any wading bird of the genus Ardea and allied genera, of the family Ardeid[ae]. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron ( Ardea cinerea) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons.

Note: There are several common American species; as, the great blue heron ( Ardea herodias); the little blue ( Ardea c[oe]rulea); the green ( Ardea virescens); the snowy ( Ardea candidissima); the night heron or qua-bird ( Nycticorax nycticorax). The plumed herons are called egrets.

Heron's bill (Bot.), a plant of the genus Erodium; -- so called from the fancied resemblance of the fruit to the head and beak of the heron.