GIIALLATOIII^. 



377 



The Onores, to the form of the Crabeaters, add the size of the 

 true.Heron, and the colour of the Bittcrns.(l) 



The Egrets are Herons whose feathers, on the lower part of the 

 back, at a certain period become long and attenuated. 



The most beautiful species, whose feathers are employed for the 

 purpose which the name of these birds indicates, are: 



Ard. garzetta; Enl. 901. (The Little Egret.) But half the 

 size of the Heron. It is all white, and its slender feathers do 

 not extend beyond the tail. 



Jlrcl alba; Enl. 886. (The Great Egret.) This one is also en- 

 tirely white, but larger. Both these species are found in Europe, 

 where a third inhabits, whose tarsi are shorter, and whose at- 

 tenuated feathers extend considerably beyond the tail; it is the 

 Ji. egretta, Enl. 925.(2) 

 We have also thought it proper to approximate to the Egrets the 

 Anl. comata, Gm.; Enl. 348; Naum. Ed. I, 22, f. 45. (The 

 Crabeater of Mahon.) A bird of southern Europe, with a red- 

 dish-brown back, and white belly and tail. The adult has a 

 yellowish neck, and a long tuft on the occiput.(3) 

 The feathers on the neck of the Bitterns are loose and separated, 

 which increases its apparent size. They are usually spotted or striped. 

 ji. stellaris, Enl. 789; Frisch, 205; Naum. Ed. I, 27, f. 36. 

 (The European Bittern.) A golden fawn-colour, spotted and 

 dotted with black; beak and feet greenish; is found among the 

 reeds, whence it sends forth that terrific voice which has enti- 

 tled it to the name of Bos taurus. Its attitude, when at rest, is 

 singular; the beak being raised towards the heavens.(4) 



(1) A. lineata, Gm. Enl. 860; A.tigrina, Id. Enl. 790, which appears to be the 

 young of Jl. flava, Gm. 



(2) Temminck thinks that the A. alba is the young of the Jl. cgrctta, and that 

 the pi. Enl. 901 does not represent tlie Little Egret of Europe, but that of America. 



(3) From the exact observations of Meyer, the A. castanea, Gm. or the rallo'i- 

 des, Scopol. ; A. squaiotta,- A. MarsigUi; A. pumila, and even A. erythropus,a.nd 

 A. malaccaisis, Gm. Enl. 911, are all mere varieties, or different ages of the Crab- 

 eater of Mahon, or A. comata. The A. senegaknsis, Enl. 315, is also a young age 

 of the same bird. It is perhaps the true Crane of the Balearic Islands of Pliny, 

 XI, 37. 



Add, A. candidissima, Wils. LXIII, 4; the Garde-boeuf, A. buhiilcus, Savign. Eg. 

 Ois., pi. viii; A. Icucocephala, Gm. Enl. 910; A. jugularts, Yovster, ov gularis, 

 Bosc, Act. de la Soc. d'Hist. Nat. fol. pi. ii, or albicollis, Vieill. G.aler. 253; A. 

 cserulea, Enl. 349, of which the A. sequinoctialis, Catesb. may probably be the 

 young, notwithstanding the difference of colour; A. rufescens, Gm. Enl. 902; 

 1. kucogasier, Enl. 330; .^3. agami, Enl. 859. [Add A. Pealii, Ronap. and R. 

 ludoviciana, Wils. VIII, pi. Ixiv, f. 1. Am. Ed] 



(4) Add A. minor, Wils. VIII, Ixv, 3, or A. stellaris, B. Gm.; Edw., 136;.^. 



Vol. I. 2 X 



