48 



ALTRICIAL GRALLATORES — IIERODIONES. 



Genus BUTORIDES, Blyth. 



Butorides, "Blyth, 1849," Bonap. Consp. 11. 1855, 128 (type, Ardea javanica, HonsF. ). 

 Oniscus, Cabax. J. f. 0. IV. 1856, 343 (type, Ardca vircscens, Linn.). 



Gen. Char. Small Herons, of darkish, more or less variegated, colors, the pileum and occiput 

 crested. BilP rather stout, decidedly longer than the tarsus. Mental apex reaching to a little 

 less than half way (in B. brunnescens exactly half way) Irom the middle of the eye to the point of 

 the 1)111, and to decidedly beyond the anterior end of the nostril ; malar apex about even with the 

 frontal, and decidedly posterior to the hinder end of the nostril (in B. brunnescens this point falls 

 considerably short of the frontal one). Middle toe very nearly or quite equal to the tarsus (equal 

 to it in B. javanicus, a little shorter in the American forms, the difference being most marked in 

 B. virescens) ; outer toe scarcely or not at all longer than the inner (except in B. brunnescens) ; 



B. virescens. 



hallux about half the length of the middle toe ; bare portion of tibia equal to or shorter than the 

 hallux. 



Pileum witli a full crest of broadly lanceolate, compact-webbed feathers, these longer and more 

 narrowly lanceolate on the occiput. Scapulars and interscapulars elongated and lanceolate in the 

 adult, but not reaching the end of the tail (very much as in Ardca'). 



It will be oljserved, fi'om the terms of the above diagnosis, that the species of this genus vary 

 somewhat in tlu! minor details of external form ; the differences are so slight, however, that they 

 are evidently of not more than specific importance. As stated above, B. javanica differs from the 

 American species in the contour of the bill, the culmen being slightly depressed about the nuddle 

 portion, as in Dichromanassa rufco. It should also be noted, however, that the several American 



1 There is a decided ditrerence in the form of the bill between the type of this genus, Ardea javanica, 

 IIoii.sKiELD, and the four American species, it being in the former almost exactly as in Dichromanassa 

 rufa, in all its outlines and pi'o]>oitioiis, although it is, of course, very much smaller. All the other char- 

 acters, however, even the system of coloiation, eorres])ond so entirely with those of the American forms 

 that the latter may be all considered typieal. Tlie generic characters are therefore modified, as to the bill, 

 so as to include all. B. 2>a(riiclis, Pealh, from Tahiti, is quite similar in form to B. javanica. 



